WHAT: State and local emergency management officials are joining representatives from Duke Energy in an exercise of the emergency response plans for the McGuire Nuclear Station in Huntersville.
WHERE: State Emergency Operations Center, Raleigh
Mecklenburg County Emergency Operations Center, Charlotte
Catawba County Emergency Operations Center, Newton
Cabarrus County Emergency Operations Center, Kannapolis
Gaston County Emergency Operations Center, Gastonia
Iredell County Emergency Operations Center, Statesville
Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center, Lincolnton
Duke Energy Emergency Operations Facility, Charlotte
WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 13
The federally-graded exercise is conducted every two years to test emergency procedures at the plant and in the county and state government agencies as required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Federal Emergency Management Agency.
This portion of the exercise will evaluate the command, control and communications functions of the state, county and utility partners. In July, FEMA evaluators assessed the counties’ abilities to perform functions including operating reception centers for evacuees, clearing waterways and decontaminating emergency workers.
At no time during the emergency exercise will the public be asked to participate or take any action as part of the simulation.
Sirens in the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone around the plant WILL NOT be sounded during the exercise. In a real emergency, the sounding of the sirens would be a signal that residents should tune to local news media sources for further information.
FEMA evaluators will present the exercise outcome to the public at a meeting on Aug. 15, 11 a.m. at the Sherrills Ford Branch Library, 9154 Sherrills Ford Road, Terrell, NC 28682. The public and media are invited to attend.