Crisis Drill Tests Counties' Response for St. Lucie Nuclear Plant

Recent exercises had emergency workers from Martin and St. Lucie counties responding to a staged emergency at the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant

February 21, 2004
By Diana Moskovitz staff writer

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Initial results from practice emergency drills in St. Lucie and Martin counties show the two areas are prepared to handle emergency evacuations, officials from both counties said Friday.

The drills had emergency workers from the two counties go into action early this week as if a nuclear crisis occurred at the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant, about eight miles south of Fort Pierce on Hutchinson Island.

Because of their proximity, both Martin and St. Lucie are considered counties at risk if a nuclear emergency takes place.

At the same time, officials stressed the importance of residents staying calm in case of an emergency.

A rough draft of the overall results will be completed in about a month, said Tom Reynolds, regional assistance committee chairman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The final results will be available two months after that, Reynolds said.

In St. Lucie County, the drill finished without a problem, said Tom Christopher, radiological coordinator for the county's division of emergency management.

In Martin, there were a few technical glitches, said Jim Kammel, radiological emergency plan administrator for Martin County. Four computer operators did not begin immediately and one communication phone failed, Kammel said.

But overall, officials completed every part of the exercise, he said.

"We overcame everything, but I like perfection," Kammel said.

Although this drill involved nuclear problems, similar steps would be taken in other emergency situations, such as hurricanes or floods.

Although most people envision immediate destruction when hearing about nuclear problems, that rarely is the case, Christopher said. Instead, warning systems throughout the plant are designed to notify operators of any problems hours before any effects spread into the community, Christopher said.

"These plants do not go out of control in a blink of an eye," he said.

Public schools are well equipped for such a situation, he said. Only six schools are within five miles of the plant and would require immediate evacuation, Christopher said.

Officials said it would take 92 of the school district's 380 buses to get students to the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds, where parents could pick them up, he said. Drivers undergo emergency training each year, he said.

Students at these schools receive information on what to do in an emergency each year, Christopher said.

- diana.moskovitz@scripps.com

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