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1. What do I do when I hear an outdoor warning siren?

The siren activation warns residents there is an emergency situation in the county.  Residents should immediately tune to local television and radio for further instruction.  Emergency messages will be broadcast with local media and all social media platforms.  Remember that the sirens are also tested quarterly.  To find out additional information on siren test dates go here https://www.duke-energy.com/safety-and-preparedness/nuclear-safety/catawba . 

2. Should I be worried about radiation?

We are surrounded by radiation all the time. Radiation is released from the ground, as well, cosmic (or space) radiation is constantly hitting Earth. Humans are exposed to radiation all of the time. We have even found medical uses for radiation; X-rays use radiation to see bone structure and other forms of radiation may be used to treat certain disease states.

Radiation becomes harmful to humans when it is in absorbed in high levels and not controlled. Radiation in the medical field is highly controlled and medical professionals put a great amount of effort in limiting the amount of radiation their patients are exposed to during procedures. The effects of radiation on the human body vary drastically depending on the type of radiation they are exposed to and the amount of radiation. The parts of the body that are most effected by high levels of radiation are the organs that consistently reproduce cells. These organs may be blood forming organs, intestinal tract, and an embryo or fetus developing in its mother.

3. Should I be worried about the Nuclear Power Plant?

Catawba Nuclear Power Station has a multitude of safety measures in place that drastically decrease the chances of an incident occurring. If an incident were to occur, CNS and York County Emergency Management would work closely together to minimize the impact to the community. Due to all of the safety measures in place, the public would be aware of what to do to limit exposure long before exposure would be of concern.

4. What if something happens at the Nuclear Power Plant?

If something happens at the power station, York County Emergency Management will be notified immediately. What actions that need to be taken will be dependent on the Emergency Classification Level that CNS declares (https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/about-emerg-preparedness/emerg-classification.html ). In the event that a public response is needed, the outdoor warning sirens will be set off. The sirens are tested on a quarterly basis. In the event the sirens are activated outside of routine testing, the public is encouraged to seek further information through local news media outlets. If you are in your car, tune to the local radio station; if you are at home, turn the television to a local channel. NOAA Weather/All Hazards Alert radios will be activated as well. You may be asked to do one of five things:

• Continue to Monitor: You will be told that the public is not at risk, but please continue to monitor local news media outlets
• Go Inside, Stay Inside: When this order is given, there is a security threat at the nuclear power station. Residents will be told to lock all their doors and windows, go towards the center of the residence and monitor news media.
• Shelter in Place: If evacuation is considered to be too dangerous or cannot be done in a timely fashion, then residents will be told to close all of their doors and windows, turn off the ventilation to their residence, go towards the center of the residence, and monitor local news media.
• Evacuation: If there is a possibly risk of radiation exposure, then the public will be asked to evacuate the area. When this occurs residents will be evacuated by zone.  To find your zone, please visit https://www.duke-energy.com/safety-and-preparedness/nuclear-safety/catawba, scroll down to "Emergency Planning Zones", and enter your full home address including city and state. Shelters will be set up for residents to go to. An exclusionary zone will be set up around the power station, where in which residents will only be allowed to leave until the area is deemed safe to return.
• Take Potassium Iodide (KI):  Potassium iodide, also known as KI, is a nonprescription drug that may prevent the thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine. KI is one protective action that might be recommended during a nuclear emergency. KI is available to Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) residents at no cost through county health departments. It should be taken only at the direction of public health officials. For more information on KI, contact your county health department.

5. What if I cannot evacuate?

If you are unable to evacuate due to certain circumstances (lack of transportation, physically incapable, or you require further assistance) then you are encouraged to fill out the “Request for Special Assistance” form prior to an incident occurring. Please visit  https://www.yorkcountygov.com/FormCenter/Emergency-Management-4/Request-for-Special-Assistance-90 to fill out this form electronically.