Changes proposed to Pennsylvania’s nuclear emergency alert system

Mac Bell
·2 min read

PENNSYLVANIA (WHMT) — The Department of Homeland Security, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will host a meeting to hear public input regarding proposed changes to Pennsylvania’s alert and notification system for nuclear power plant emergencies.

According to FEMA, they plan on making significant changes to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s alert and notification system for nuclear power plant emergencies within the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station emergency planning zone.

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

WHTM Daily Digest

“FEMA is seeking the public’s comments on the proposed plan change to replace sirens with wireless emergency alerts via cellular phones as the primary alert and notification system.  This drill will test the government’s ability to alert and notify the public with the new system in the event of an emergency at the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station,” MaryAnn Tierney, Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 3 said. “We will assess the plan changes that replace the sirens with wireless emergency alerts received through cellular phones within the emergency planning zone of the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station.”

FEMA will be conducting an exercise to evaluate the new system on Thursday, May 9. The agency will then use the results of this exercise to make its decision on approving the significant plan change.

FEMA will be seeking public comment from members of the public on Friday, May 10 at 10:00 a.m. to present their preliminary findings from the exercise.

The meeting will be held at the Talen Energy East Mountain Business Center on 1190 East Mountain Boulevard, in Wilkes-Barre.

Remembering the Three Mile Island meltdown 45 years later

For the public meeting, FEMA requests that questions or comments be submitted for review and response. Written comments may also be submitted after the meeting by emailing FEMAR3NewsDesk@fema.dhs.gov.

FEMA says it created the new Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program for the following reasons:

  1. To ensure the health and safety of citizens living around commercial nuclear power plants would be adequately protected in the event of a nuclear power plant accident.

  2. To inform and educate the public about radiological emergency preparedness.

REP Program responsibilities only cover “offsite” activities, which is state and local government emergency planning and preparedness activities that take place beyond the nuclear power plant.

On-site activities still continue to be the responsibility for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

For more information on FEMA’s REP Program, you can click here.

abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.