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NRC Hurricane Preparedness
Hurricane season begins in June and the National Hurricane Center makes predictions about what
that season may look like. No matter what the predictions say the NRC will be ready
– ready to ensure that the nuclear facilities we regulate
remain safe.
During the hurricane season, we closely monitor all tropical storms and hurricanes in the
Atlantic as they develop. If the storm’s projected
path shows it moving towards the coast, our regional
offices begin tracking it around the clock. The NRC staff pays special attention to areas
with nuclear plants or other NRC-regulated facilities.
As the hurricane’s path becomes more clearly-defined and it looks like it will come ashore, the
NRC’s preparations kick into a higher gear. The monitoring is intensified…resident inspectors
at nuclear sites near the projected storm path
begin checking the plant’s preparations…and additional NRC inspectors may be dispatched
to nuclear plant sites that might be affected.
About 48 hours before expected hurricane-force winds, NRC officials travel to State Emergency
Operations Centers to be in position when the storm makes landfall. Key NRC emergency
personnel in the regional office and headquarters are placed on call. Normal and backup
communications channels are also tested.
About 12 hours before predicted hurricane-force winds, the NRC enters one of its response
modes. All the nuclear facilities potentially in the hurricane's path provide the NRC continual
updates and the on-site inspectors monitor the plant staff’s actions.
Nuclear plants are built to withstand the expected storms in their area and actual hurricanes
have shown that plants can safely shut down and
survive even extremely powerful storms with little or
no damage to important safety equipment. Even so, the NRC establishes communications with
state and federal emergency response agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, just in case protective actions for local residents are needed.
The NRC stays in contact with plants as the storm passes over. If normal communication
channels are lost, the NRC has backup emergency systems for communicating with inspectors
and plant staff.
After the storm passes, the NRC helps assess the damage to the facility and, if needed,
respond to any problems. A key part of that assessment
is making sure local emergency response organizations are recovered enough from the
hurricane to resume their normal response mode.
The nuclear plant and the surrounding area may have temporarily lost power, roads and
bridges may be damaged and trees may block other roads.
If the plant shut down in advance of the hurricane, it will only be restarted after
the NRC is satisfied that there is no damage to safety
equipment and emergency response resources have been restored.
Fortunately, most tropical storms and hurricanes that form in the Atlantic do not affect the
U.S. mainland…Even fewer affect nuclear facilities,
but a combination of experience and preparation mean the NRC and the facilities we regulate
are ready -- just in case.