A reactor at a Southern California nuclear power plant was shut down after a leak in a steam generator tube on Tuesday, Reuters reported. This incident came a day after WIFR reported a nuclear plant lost power and shut down in Byron, Ill., on Monday. While both incidents were determined to not be high emergency levels, they are reminders of the importance to include nuclear disaster planning in individual and family emergency plans.
* A shutdown of a nuclear power plant could potentially mean a loss of electricity service to customers.
* The most frightening hazard from a nuclear power plant accident is exposure to radiation. FEMA characterizes the most common type of radiation exposure is from a cloud of radioactive gases and particles that could form. This type of cloud could cause exposure through particles left on the ground, breathing or ingesting radioactive materials.
* FEMA characterizes the risk area around a nuclear disaster as two zones. Zone one is a 10-mile radius around the plant where an incident occurs. People within this zone could be harmed by direct exposure to radiation. Zone two is a 50-mile radius around the plant in which radioactive materials from an accident could cause contamination of crops, water supplies and livestock.
* Before a nuclear emergency, residents living near a power plant are urged to follow normal emergency planning and preparedness as they would for any other emergency such as an earthquake. Make a plan that would require evacuation, and prepare a kit full of needed supplies that include food, water, prescription meds, important paperwork and other necessities. Don't forget your pets in your plan.
* If you live near a nuclear power plant, become familiar with emergency terms used to describe an incident.
* An "unusual incident" means a problem has occurred but there is no risk that will affect residents around the plant.
* "Alert" means a problem has occurred and small amounts of radiation could leak inside the plant but still no risk to residents around the plant.
* "Site Area Emergency" means residents in the zones around the plant might hear sirens from the plant and should listen to local television and radio stations for instructions and information.
* "General Emergency" is the highest alert level. This means radiation could leak from the plant and into the surrounding areas. Sirens will sound and residents are urged to listen carefully to instructions that will be broadcast on TV and radio. You should plan to act very quickly upon instructions during this alert level.
* Be prepared to act quickly, evacuate if necessary and move as far from a radiation source as possible. During an evacuation, close all car windows and vents, and recirculate air in your vehicle.
* If you are told to remain inside, turn off all air intakes in your home -- air conditioning units, vents, fans and furnaces.
* Shield yourself and your family by going to a basement and/or placing dense material such as heavy plastic between yourself and the outside.
* If you are exposed to radiation, don't waste time -- follow decontamination procedures which include taking a thorough shower and placing exposed shoes and clothing into plastic bags which should then be sealed and put out of the way.
Tammy Lee Morris is certified as a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member and is a trained Skywarn Stormspotter through the National Weather Service. She has received interpretive training regarding the New Madrid Seismic Zone through EarthScope -- a program of the National Science Foundation. She researches and writes about earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, weather and other natural phenomena.
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