Tenn. emergency managers conduct drill at nuclear plant
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Staff report
S.C. agencies come together for nuclear station drill
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The sirens may sound and hundreds of fire and rescue workers may rush to evacuate those living around the Sequoyah Nuclear Power plant today.
 The bi-annual test will be evaluated by representatives of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, (AP Photo/TVA) |
But those living in the 10-mile radius of Sequoyah need not panic. The apparent nuclear power accident simply is a test of the emergency response by the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and local police, fire and rescue agencies to a simulated radioactive leak at the nuclear plant.
The bi-annual test, which will be evaluated by representatives of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, will involve about 1,000 people today in the biggest test of Sequoyah's emergency systems in two years, TVA spokeswoman Myra Ireland said.
The test area will cover portions of both Hamilton and Bradley counties, and the drill will involve state and local Emergency Management Agencies, TVA, police, fire and NRC officials.
"The scenario that is tested varies with each drill, but whatever the simulated accident involves it will eventually require some type of emergency alert and evacuation of people near the plant," NRC spokesman Roger Hannah said. "These drills help make sure that the right procedures and personnel are deployed if there ever was an accident at a nuclear plant."
Representatives of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the NRC will offer their assessment of the drill at a public hearing at 11 a.m. Friday in the Tennessee River Room of TVA's downtown Chattanooga office complex.
TVA operates nuclear power plants at Sequoyah and Watts Bar in Tennessee and at Browns Ferry in Alabama. Mr. Hannah said all three of TVA's nuclear plants are in full compliance with federal emergency response standards, but each of the plants is required to conduct an emergency drill every year and every other year the drill is evaluated by the Department of Homeland Security.
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