If disaster strikes, we are ready. Nuclear plants are built to withstand natural disasters and other emergencies. Each facility prepares a response plan with one goal in mind: to protect our communities and employees. The federal government approves these plans, and plants test them frequently to identify areas of improvement.

Expect the Best, Plan for the Worst

• The best emergency response comes from mutual cooperation and planning. Plant operators use their intimate knowledge of nuclear science and their facility to craft a detailed plan that meets requirements set by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They also work with local and state governments to train first responders like police, firefighters and paramedics.
• These measures are a gold standard in emergency response planning and provide value outside of the nuclear industry. Local officials have used emergency response plans developed in conjunction with their neighborhood nuclear plant to respond effectively to hazards that may impact the community such as severe weather events.

Emergency Plans Are Constantly Tested

• Emergency plans continually evolve. Every month, each plant conducts training and drills. Every two years, each plant exercises its emergency response plan with state and local government agencies and the NRC. Following the exercise, every participant undergoes an in-depth critique and identifies areas needing improvements.
• Emerging issues also can lead to improvements. After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the nuclear industry re-evaluated its plans to cover a broader array of unforeseen events.
• In response to the Fukushima accident in 2011, the industry stationed more backup safety equipment at plants and regional depots. The FLEX strategy made about 1,500 pieces of additional equipment, from nozzles to generators, available to every nuclear plant.