Be Prepared

Develop an Emergency Plan and Kit

It is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area. Your Emergency Plan will have everything from emergency contact information to medical information, the emergency planning zone (EPZ) you live in, information about evacuation and sheltering-in-place, and more.

Your Emergency Kit should have supplies on hand to last at least three days for each family member, in durable and easy-to-carry bags or containers, such as backpacks, duffel bags, or suitcases.

Start developing your Emergency Plan and building your Emergency Kit today. Download the CTPrepares Mobile App to build your own emergency plan(s), keep track of emergency kit supplies, stay connected to friends and family, and receive emergency information and alerts. Or, visit the CT REP Education and Public Information website to view available resources and tools.

Items to include:

Go to FEMA’s website, Prepare Your Pets for Disaster for additional information and guidance, or CDC’s Pet Safety in Emergencies webpage.

Register as an Individual with Critical Needs

If you are an individual with critical needs and would need evacuation assistance, complete and return the Functional Needs and Assistance Survey Card that is mailed to you on annual basis, or contact your locality to learn what options are available. Residents needing evacuation assistance must complete and mail, at no cost, the survey card every year. The survey should only include information regarding impairments that will impede self-evacuation from your home. Survey information is given to your city or town's emergency management official to ensure information is up-to-date and, if needed, provide assistance in the event of an emergency or evacuation.

Locality and state contact information is provided under More Information below. You may also download the Functional Needs and Assistance Survey Card from the CT REP Education and Public Information website.

Preparing for a Radiological Emergency

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) defines four emergency classifications that could occur at a nuclear power station. Dominion Energy would contact federal, state, and local authorities in each of the following situations:

• Unusual Event is the least serious level, indicating a potential or minor event at the station. Radioactive release, if any, is minimal and far below Federal guidelines. There is no impact to public and no public action needed. Support from state and local emergency officials is not needed.
• Alert is a more serious level, indicating an event that may affect station safety. Radioactive release, if any, is minimal and far below Federal guidelines. There is no impact to public and no public action needed. State and local emergency officials will share information with the public as needed.
• Site Area Emergency is a serious level, indicating an event that may affect or has affected plant safety. Radioactive release, if any, should remain under Federal guidelines. When alerted, you should tune in to local radio and television stations for information and instructions. State and local emergency officials may recommend actions for the public to take.
• General Emergency is the most serious level that involves a serious event that may affect or has affected plant safety. Radioactive release, if any, may exceed Federal guidelines. When alerted, you should tune in to local radio and television stations for information and instructions for protective actions. State and local emergency officials will direct actions for the public to take.

Nuclear power plants are designed, engineered, and operated to adhere to stringent safety and security regulations and practices. Multiple layers of safety systems and structures protect the plant and community from an emergency:

• Reactor safety systems with separate, redundant backup systems to provide reliable protection
• Reinforced concrete and steel designed containment buildings to withstand tremendous forces (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and external explosions) 
• Regularly exercised and comprehensive emergency plans and procedures
• Highly skilled, experienced, and continuously trained plant employees
• Highly secured, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Comprehensive security plans managed by an on-site security force
• Advanced physical security and monitoring systems

There are three fission product barriers (also referred to as protective barriers) that prevent radioactive fission products to release into the environment: (1) fuel cladding, (2) reactor vessel and cooling system, and (3) containment.

Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) and
Host Community Reception Center

Communities located within 10 miles of Millstone Power Station are included in the 10-mile EPZ. Following a General Emergency, people in parts of the 10-mile EPZ may be directed to take protective actions such as sheltering-in-place, evacuation, ingestion of potassium iodide (KI) if recommended, or simply instructed to monitor and prepare.

Below are the 10 communities within approximately 10-miles of Millstone Power Station:

• Ledyard (in blue) – Consists of areas south of Hurlbutt Rd., Whalehead Rd., and Sandy Hollow Rd. to Route 117
• The Lymes (in purple) – Consists of all of East Lyme, Old Lyme, and areas of Lyme east of Route 156 and south of Beaver Brook Rd.
• Montville (in yellow)  – Consists of areas south of Grassy  Hill Rd., Chesterfield Rd., and Route 163, between Glendale Rd. and Chapel Hill Rd.
• New London (in orange) – Encompasses all of New London.
• The Grotons (in green) - Encompasses all of Groton Town and Groton City.
• Waterford (in yellow) – Encompasses all of Waterford.
• Fishers Island (in orange) – Encompasses all of Fishers Island.

The 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) includes all or part of the ten towns and cities and the waters within approximately 10 miles of Millstone Power Station.

If an evacuation is ordered, listen closely to emergency officials to see if your area of town should evacuate and for instructions about reporting to an evacuation reception center. Each community is designated to evacuate to a reception center in one of five Host Communities (New Haven, West Hartford, Mansfield/UCONN/Storrs, Willimantic/Windham and Norwich). Officials may have important information about evacuation routes or may re-direct your town to an alternative Host Community.

Learn about your evacuation reception centers under Report to Your Reception Center in an Evacuation below.

Follow Emergency Instructions

Report to Your Reception Center in an Evacuation

Each community within 10 miles of Millstone Power Station has been assigned a Reception Center that is at least 15 miles from the power station. If told to evacuate, you may be instructed to go to your reception center where designated personnel will monitor for contamination and if required, assist in decontamination of people, pets, and vehicles. Other services at a Reception Centers include family reunification, crisis counseling, basic emergency medical services, potassium iodide (KI) tablets if you have not yet obtained your KI, and American Red Cross services (e.g., connection to shelters).

Use the primary evacuation route described below to get to your assigned Reception Center, unless otherwise directed to use another alternative route instead. Or, view the evacuation route information in the Millstone Power Station EPZ Evacuation Zones Map.

*Only a portion of Ledyard, Lyme and Montville are located in the 10-mile emergency planning zone. The areas within the EPZ are:

1. Ledyard EPZ - All areas south of Hurlbutt Road, Whalehead Road and Sandy Hollow Road to Route 117.
2. Lyme EPZ - All areas east of Route 156 and south of Beaver Brook Road.
3. Montville EPZ - All areas south of Grassy Hill Road, Chesterfield Road, Route 163 and Depot Road to Waterford and East Lyme town lines including those areas between Glendale Road and Chapel Hill Road in Oakdale Heights.

Take Potassium Iodide (KI) If Recommended

Protect Your Livestock and Agriculture

Protective recommendations for livestock and agricultural products will be issued by appropriate state and local officials. Other preparedness actions to protect livestock and agriculture include:

• If possible, shelter farm animals and provide stored (covered) feed and protected water (e.g., protective self-feeders and automatic waterers).
• Store feed in buildings or cover with plastic or canvas if outdoors.
• Cover open wells and water tanks.
• Have a relocation plan in the event that you cannot return to your home.

If you have livestock or agricultural products, download the Radiological Emergency Information for Connecticut’s Agricultural Community brochure , or call 1-800-397-8876 to request a copy. You may also visit the Connecticut Animal Response Team website that contains a wealth of resources for preparing and responding to animal needs in disasters.

Download the U.S Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Livestock Preparedness Fact Sheet  for additional guidance on protecting livestock in emergencies.

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