FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITY TO PARTICIPATE IN RADIOLOGICAL EXERCISE JULY 19

Surry nuclear power station emergency will be simulated

City of Newport News response personnel will participate in the Virginia Operations Plan Exercise (VOPEX) on Tuesday, July 19th.

City of Newport News response personnel will participate in the Virginia Operations Plan Exercise (VOPEX) on Tuesday, July 19th. This bi-annual full-scale exercise is a simulated radiological emergency involving Surry nuclear power station and is designed to test the emergency response plans developed for the Surry Power Station, the Commonwealth and localities surrounding the power station in the unlikely event of a radiological emergency.

During the exercise, Newport News will activate its Emergency Operations Center (EOC), practice traffic control measures in the field, demonstrate back-up route alerting, have radiological monitoring teams take simulated field readings, and communicate via radio.

All localities within 10 miles of the power station (Surry County, Isle of Wight County, York County, James City County, Williamsburg, and Newport News) will participate in the exercise, as well as Dominion, state response personnel, and four additional localities (Hampton, Poquoson, New Kent County and Charles City County).

Out-of-sequence activities took place the week of June 13th and included demonstrating the ability to monitor and decontaminate evacuees and emergency workers at an Evacuation Assembly Center. Newport News Public Schools also demonstrated the ability to make protective action decisions for students during that week.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will evaluate the exercise and will review the success of the exercise at a public meeting at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 22nd at the Omni Hotel in Newport News.
 

###