FEMA Exercise to Evaluate Readiness of Virginia Responders
The Biennial Emergency Preparedness Exercise at the North Anna Power Station will take place during the week of July 7.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will evaluate a Biennial Emergency Preparedness Exercise at the North Anna Power Station, a Dominion nuclear power plant located in Louisa County, Virginia, northwest of Richmond. The exercise will occur during the week of July 7 and is intended to assess the readiness of state and local Virginia emergency responders for an emergency at the nuclear facility.
"These drills are held every other year to evaluate government's ability to protect public health and safety," said MaryAnn Tierney, FEMA Region III administrator. "We will assess state and local emergency response capabilities within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone, as well as the adjacent support jurisdictions within the Commonwealth of Virginia."
Once the exercise is finished, FEMA will send its evaluation within 90 days to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for use in licensing decisions. The final report will be available to the public about 120 days after the exercise, but FEMA also will present preliminary findings at a public meeting at 10:30 a.m. July 11 at the Richmond Marriott West, 4240 Dominion Blvd. in Glen Allen, Va.