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 protective action zone 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/containers, such as backpacks, duffel bags, or suitcases. 

Start developing your Emergency Plan and building your Emergency Kit today. Download the SC Emergency Manager Mobile App, South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) official mobile app, to build your own emergency plan(s), keep track of supplies, and stay connected. Or, visit the SCEMD website to view available resources and tools.

Emergency kit items include:

Go to SCEMD’s Preparing Your Pets in an Emergency webpage for additional information and guidance. 

 

Register as an Individual with Access and Functional Needs

If you are an individual with access and functional needs that  may require evacuation assistance, you should complete and return the Individuals With Access and Functional Needs Survey that is mailed to residents on an 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. If you become ill or need assistance at the time of an emergency, contact your local sheriff or ambulance service.  

Contact information is provided under More Information.

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 per day, 7 days per week 
• Comprehensive security plans that are managed by 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. 

Know Your Protective Action Zone (PAZ)
 and Reception Center 

In an emergency, it is unlikely that everyone within the 10-mile area of the plant would be affected due to varying factors, such as weather and nature of the emergency. 

The 10-mile area around the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station is divided up into 13 zones, called Protective Action Zones. By knowing your protective action zone, you can quickly identify if you are in the zone affected by the emergency and what action(s) to take. For example, people in some zones may be instructed to shelter-in-place or evacuate, while people in other zones may not be affected at all.     

To easily find out your protective action zone, go to SCEMD’s Nuclear Facility Zones interactive map or view in the SC Emergency Manager mobile app. Or, view the static map.  

If your protective action zone is instructed to evacuate, listen closely to emergency officials on instruction to report to your assigned Reception Center. Learn more about Reception Centers under Report to Your Reception Center in an Evacuation  below. 

Follow Emergency Instructions

Report to Your Reception Center in an Evacuation

If asked to evacuate, you may be instructed to go to your assigned reception center where designated personnel will monitor for contamination and, if recommended, provide potassium iodide (KI) as a supplemental protective action.

Use the primary evacuation route described below to get to your assigned Reception Center, unless otherwise directed to use another alternative route instead. 

COUNTY	SECTOR	PRIMARY EVACUATION ROUTE	RECEPTION CENTER
FAIRFIELD	A-0	213 East, 321 North, to	Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science
FAIRFIELD	A-1	257 North, to 99 North, to 34  East, 321 North, to	Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science
FAIRFIELD	A-2	34  East, 321 North, to	Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science
FAIRFIELD	B-1	213  East, 321 North, to	Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science
FAIRFIELD	B-2	213  East, 321 North, to	Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science
FAIRFIELD	C-1	215 South, 269 North, 321 North, to	Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science
FAIRFIELD	C-2	215 South, 269 North, 321 North, to	Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science
RICHLAND	D-1	26 East, 20 East, 277 North, 77 North, Exit 27 Blythewood Rd, to State Rd S-40-59 Muller Rd	Muller Road Middle School *
LEXINGTON	D-2	26 East,  Exit 103 Harbison Blvd to St. Andrews Rd, West to	Crossroads Intermediate School
NEWBERRY	E-1	US 176 West, on SC 219 South/West, to	Newberry High School
NEWBERRY	E-2	US 26 West, on SC 219 South/West, to	Newberry High School
NEWBERRY	F-1	Broad River Rd North, to SC South, to Hillbrook Lane (West), On SC   South/West, to	Newberry High School
NEWBERRY	F-2	US 176 North, to SC 34 South,  to Hillbrook Lane (West), On SC 219 South/West, to	Newberry High School
*  Students will be released to their parents via the Dutch Fork High School parents’ pick-up line at Dutch Fork High School.

Below are schools and licensed daycare centers in the 10-mile area around the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station, in their respective sector,  and assigned reception center to go to if instructed to evacuate: 

COUNTY	School/Licensed Day Care Center	Sector	Reception Center
Richland County	Academy for Success Spring Hill High School Center for Advanced Technology  Chapin Middle School	D-1 D-1 D-1 D-1	Muller Rd MS Muller Rd MS Muller Rd MS Muller Rd MS
Fairfield County	Kelly Miller Child Development Center  Kelly Miller School  McCrorey-Liston Child Development Center  McCrorey-Liston School of Technology	C-2 C-2 A-2 A-2	Fairfield Magnet School Fairfield Magnet School Fairfield Magnet School Fairfield Magnet School
Lexington County	Chapin Baptist Child Development Center  Chapin Children Center Chapin Elementary School  Chapin Intermediate School Chapin High School Inez’s Children Center   Abner Montessori School  Mt. Horeb Lutheran Church	D-2 D-2 D-2 D-2 D-2 D-2 D-2 D-2	Crossroads Intermediate School Crossroads Intermediate School Crossroads Intermediate School Crossroads Intermediate School Crossroads Intermediate School Crossroads Intermediate School Crossroads Intermediate School Crossroads Intermediate School
NEWBERRY	Little Angels Day Care Little Mountain School*  Mid-Carolina High School* Mid-Carolina Middle School* Pomaria-Garmany School*	E-2 E-2 E-2 E-2 F-2	Newberry HS Wightman UM Church Wightman UM Church Wightman UM Church Central UM

 *  Note: Refer to Parent Information Brochure on Critical Incidents distributed by Newberry County Schools.

Take Potassium Iodide (KI) If Recommended

Not every radiological emergency will result in the release of radioactive iodine. Potassium iodide, also known as KI, is a form of iodine. KI is used as a supplemental protective action.  KI helps protect your thyroid gland if there is a chance you might be exposed to a harmful amount of radioactive iodine.  A 2-day supply of KI tablets is provided at no cost to residents living or working within the 10-mile area around V.C. Summer Nuclear Station by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC).  

To obtain your 2-day KI supply, go to your local SCDHEC county public health department and bring some form of identification or paperwork that shows you live or work within the 10-mile area of V.C. Summer Nuclear Station (no appointment necessary): 

Residents living outside the 10-mile area can purchase KI tablets from their personal pharmacy.

If Ki is recommended in an emergency, it is Important to follow exact dosing, which can be found on SCDHEC KI Fact Sheet. Especially in young children and infants, giving too much KI can cause more serious side effects and health issues.

Visit SCDHEC’s Radiation, Nuclear Safety webpage for more information on radiation, KI, and South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Nuclear Response and Emergency Environmental Surveillance section, or call 1-844-723-7377.

Protect Your Livestock, Poultry, and Agriculture   

Protective recommendations for livestock and agricultural products will be issued by appropriate state and local officials. 

Livestock and poultry owners are responsible for the care and wellbeing of their animals. Livestock and poultry owners, farmers, and producers should develop and maintain a premises-specific emergency plan to use in the case of any evacuation notice.  Nuclear plant emergencies may impact livestock, food, and agricultural products. As a precaution for public health and safety, and in response to an emergency resulting in contamination, state and federal officials may restrict the movement of livestock, poultry, food and feed items, and other agricultural products. Livestock and poultry are domesticated animals typically raised on a farm or other agricultural setting and include but are not limited to cattle, horses/donkeys, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, and turkeys.

Livestock and poultry owners, farmers, and producers can find more information related to emergency preparedness planning from the Clemson University Livestock Poultry Health (Office of the SC State Veterinarian) website and the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service website. 

For more information about disaster planning for livestock and agriculture, visit SCEMD’s Agriculture and Nuclear Power in South Carolina factsheet .