nuclear-news

TVA sends calendars to households near nuclear plants with preparedness tips in case of emergencies

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Valley Authority operates nuclear power plants across East Tennessee and Alabama. Every year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, they send out calendars to households within a 10-mile radius of each plant which include tips on how people can prepare for an emergency involving a nuclear power plant.

………………………… The TVA also recently hosted an event at their Watts Bar power plant to discuss the steps they take to be prepared in case of an emergency. They said they work with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and local agencies to develop response plans, overseen by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The tips on the calendars and the items discussed at the event include evacuation routes, shelter locations, and items people should have ready in case of an emergency.

Some of those items include a first-aid kit, a toolbox, candles, matches, potassium iodide tablets, a portable radio, a flashlight and extra batteries. They also provided a list of items people should prepare in case they need to leave due to an evacuation order. Those items are listed below.

• 
  The TVA calendar
• Prescription and over-the-counter medications
• Personal health products (shaving cream, toothbrush)
• Necessary foods for dietary restrictions
• Blankets and pillows
• Cash, checkbook, credit cards, important papers
• Items for children (favorite toys, books)
• Change of clothing
• Potassium iodide tablets*

The TVA also gave instructions for different kinds of orders during emergencies. The most immediate one, “go inside — stay inside,” means people should go to the nearest safe building and stay inside it until further notice.

If people are told they should take shelter indoors, they should also close all doors and windows, according to the preparedness tips from TVA. They should also turn off systems that take in air from outside the house such as furnaces, air conditioners, fireplace vents and dampers.

More tips from the TVA on what people should do if they’re told to shelter indoors are listed below. [on original]

………………. If people are told to evacuate, they should follow the listed evacuation routes near their homes. There are separate evacuation routes for households near Browns Ferry, Sequoyah and Watts Bar power plants.

…………. more https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/tva-nuclear-emergency-preparedness-tips-2022/51-f464bb7c-48e2-4060-a820-87577aaf80d8

December 9, 2022 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized