Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant
 

No matter how unlikely the chances of an emergency, nuclear power plants are required to have emergency plans to handle any incident. Constellation Energy has an emergency response plan for Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. The plans are approved by local, state, and federal government agencies and are tested regularly in emergency drills. Because Calvert Cliffs is located within a 10 miles radius of St. Mary’s County, emergency drills and procedures are included in the St. Mary’s County Emergency Operations Plan.

Sirens and the Alert Notification System

In an emergency, Constellation Energy would inform state and county officials at once. County officials would activate the siren alerting system within a 10-mile radius of the power plant.

What to do if you hear a siren

• Stay Calm.
• Don’t panic.
• Check it out. The siren could be only a test, or it could be an accidental or faulty sounding.
• If you are not sure, assume it is real.
• Seek Emergency Information through Radio, TV, and/or webpages. See the Emergency Information Link to find out which stations to tune in.

Siren Testing

Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant conducts regular tests of emergency response sirens in St. Mary’s County to ensure the sirens are functioning properly. The test sound lasts 30 seconds to one minute. A full three minute siren test is conducted annually on the first Monday in November at noon. The St. Mary’s County Department of Public Safety conducts a take cover test, consisting of 12 short siren sounds, on the first Saturday of each month at noon.

Notification

Following an emergency siren alert, repeated messages broadcast on the Emergency Alert System (EAS) would tell you what to do. Also, police, fire departments and government agencies spread emergency instructions by the Code Red Emergency Notification System, mobile public address (PA) systems, bullhorns, and even knocking on doors.

Emergency Classifications

If an emergency were to occur at a nuclear facility, it would be classified on one of four levels. This four-level emergency classification system has been established by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Unusual Event - The least serious of the four levels. Because of strict federal laws, any event out of the ordinary is reported to federal, state, and local authorities. The event poses no danger to the public or to the plant employees. State and county emergency officials are notified in case the situation worsens. No response by county or state agencies or the public is necessary.

Alert - This level of emergency would be declared if an actual or possible reduction of plant safety has occurred. State and county emergency officials would be notified and kept up to date. State emergency agencies would recommend public action. The purpose of the Alert classification is to ensure that additional emergency response personnel are ready to respond if necessary.

Site Emergency - At this level, significant problems at the plant have worsened to the point that a radioactive release to the air or water is possible. During a Site Emergency, state and county Emergency Operations Centers would be staffed. Precautionary measures such as the closing of parks and schools might be required. The sirens would likely be sounded, alerting you to listen to the radio for instructions and further important information.

General Emergency - The most serious of the four levels. This classification means numerous safety systems have failed. These conditions would likely lead to the release or threat of release of radiation. State and county emergency officials would direct protective actions for residents living near the plant. People in the affected areas would be instructed to take shelter indoors or to evacuate.

Taking Shelter

Sheltering is one protective action that county and state officials might order in a nuclear power plant emergency. County Emergency Shelters are the three County High Schools.  Listen to local radio and television to find out which shelters have been opened.  See Emergency Shelters for more information about what you should bring with you to the shelter.

Taking Potassium Iodine (KI)

Potassium Iodine, also known as KI, can be used as an additional protective measure in the event of a radiation emergency.

State and local officials will announce when the public should take KI in repeated emergency broadcast messages.

KI is a nonprescription medication that blocks the uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland. KI does not protect a person or the thyroid from direct exposure to radiation. Taking KI only saturates the thyroid with non-radioactive iodine.

For most individuals, KI is safe. However, adverse reactions are possible in persons having existing thyroid conditions and those with an allergy to iodine. Anyone considering the use of KI should consult with their healthcare provider. Follow the directions for storage and use included with the product.

KI has been pre-distributed to schools located within the 10-mile radius of the nuclear power plant. Parents/Guardians must provide consent forms before distribution to students. St. Mary’s County rresidents living within 10 miles of Calvert Cliffs may obtain KI by contacting the St. Mary’s County Health Department at 301-475-4330.

Protecting Livestock and Crops

If an accident at a CCNPP resulted in a release of radioactive material, the St. Mary’s County Department of Public Safety, Emergency Management Division, in coordination with the agriculture extension agent would provide information on how to protect livestock and crops.

To protect your livestock:

• Take care of milk-producing livestock first.
• Remove grazing animals from pasture and shelter them.
• Cover supplies of feed and water (i.e. cisterns), if possible.
• Use only stored feed when available.
• If you must evacuate, provide plenty of food and water for your animals. Make sure shelters are well ventilated during hot weather. Farmers would have the opportunity to return to their farms for livestock care under the supervision of county emergency workers.

To protect your crops:

• Unharvested crops are hard to protect. If time and weather conditions permit, normal harvesting and processing might still be possible. Do not attempt to harvest or process crops when protective actions, such as sheltering or evacuation, have been advised for you and your family.
• Cover harvested crops, if possible, or store inside.
• Wash, scrub, peel, or shell fresh vegetables and fruits before eating.
• Do not process or distribute agricultural products until they have been sampled by government officials and found to be free of contamination.

Radiological Information for Farmers and Food Processors

To obtain more Radiological Information for Farmers and Food Processors on how to protect your livestock and crops, download the following PDF document from Constellation Energy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is radiation?

Radiation is energy given off by atoms in the form of particles or waves. An operating nuclear power plant produces radiation that is basically no different from nature’s radiation, which is with us through everyday life in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, the ground we walk on, and even in our bodies.

How is radiation detected?

You can’t see, hear, feel, taste, or smell radiation, but special meters can easily detect it. The radiation levels around nuclear power plants are continuously checked. In the event of an accident, the public would be told what to do to minimize exposure to radiation.

What’s the risk from exposure to radiation?

The harm that can come from radiation depends on several things: the kind of rays and particles that strike you; the length of time you are exposed; the parts of your body exposed; and the amount of radioactive material that enters your body through eating or breathing.

How do I know if I live in the 10 mile Emergency Protection Zone?

Go to the Emergency Preparedness Map  or

• if you live  east of 235 beginning at North Sandgates Rd and ending at Rue Purchase Rd. 
• if you live one mile West of 235 beginning at the Wildewood Center and ending at Clover Hill Rd.

What Provisions Do Officials Make for School Children?

If there is a Calvert Cliffs event during school hours that threatens the health and safety of students, St Mary’s County Public Schools will evacuate students from Risk Schools to Host Schools.

Schools that are in the 10 mile Emergency Protection Zone and their host schools are:

Risk School	Host School
Town Creek Elementary	Margaret Brent Middle School
Esperanza Middle School	Forrest Career and Technology Center
Green Holly School	Forrest Career and Technology Center
St John’s Elementary School	St. Mary’s Ryken
Hollywood Elementary School	Margaret Brent  Middle School

Please listen to Emergency Alert System Announcements from the local radio stations to find out when to pick your child up at their host school.  Children who live within the 10 mile Emergency Protection Zone, but attend school outside the zone will remain at their school until parents can come to pick them up.

For more information contact the Department of Public Safety at 301-475-4200 Option 6 then Option 3.