WASHINGTON, D.C.—Hurricane Florence is the latest significant weather event to test America’s nuclear energy facilities. In total from Georgia to Virginia, 20 nuclear reactors at 11 sites took action in preparation for Florence, with 17 continuing to run at 100 percent power through the storm. Two nuclear reactors at the Brunswick Nuclear Plant in North Carolina powered down in advance of Florence per safety procedures outlined by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Unrelated to prevailing weather conditions, another reactor at McGuire Nuclear Station in North Carolina went offline prior to the storm for scheduled refueling.

History has shown that U.S. nuclear plants can maintain safety and withstand major storms – most recently seen as the South Texas Project kept running at 100 percent power through Hurricane Harvey. The following is a statement regarding the nuclear industry’s response to Hurricane Florence from Maria Korsnick, the Nuclear Energy Institute’s president and chief executive officer:

“America’s nuclear power facilities continue to prove their structural strength, safety and ability to withstand extreme weather events. These robust facilities once again stood up to the test as Hurricane Florence brought record rainfall and catastrophic winds to the Carolinas and Virginia. In the aftermath of the hurricane, nuclear plants across the southeast stood able and ready to quickly power hospitals and other services critical for emergency personnel and first responders. 

“As these communities begin to recover, the nuclear fleet is ready to provide electricity to homes and businesses and bring a sense of normalcy back to the lives of residents. This further demonstrates nuclear energy’s value to the grid and proven resilience during extraordinary weather phenomena.”