FEMA and local agencies discuss emergency preparedness ahead of Palisades Nuclear Power Plant restart

VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. -- Radiation emergencies are unlikely, but a real possibility in parts of Michiana when the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Covert Township, Michigan gets restarted later this year.

On Tuesday, FEMA and local agencies briefed the public on what strategies are in place to make sure they're prepared to respond to surrounding communities in case of a serious emergency.

The immediate 10-mile radius surrounding the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant is the focus area for short-term harm if there were to be an emergency; it covers parts of Van Buren, Allegan, and Berrien Counties.

“Ensuring the stringent regulatory milestones are met to protect the health and safety of the plants neighboring communities, that is our number one mission," says Michael Chesney, FEMA Region 5 Acting Regional Administrator.

Agencies within those areas and FEMA completed training drills as recently as last week to run through the large scope of scenarios of how they would respond and alert residents of a radiologic emergency.

FEMA officials say those exercises ran smoothly and were successful.

“This is a necessary step to get back online," explains Nick Culp, Senior Manager of Government Affairs and Communications for Holtec Palisades.

Some of the safety plan shared with the public Tuesday showed how local agencies have practiced sending out emergency alerts, designating congregate care centers, and training medical staff to treat nuclear-related health emergencies.

“Fire departments, police departments at the local level, EMS, service providers, schools, down to school bus drivers receive training on an annual basis," explains Rockey Adams, Berrien County Emergency Management Coordinator.

In Berrien County, the northern townships of Coloma, Hagar, and Watervliet are within the 10-mile emergency zone of the power plant.

Adams says it isn't unfamiliar territory for Berrien County, as they have similar safety plans in place for the Donald C. Cook Power Plant elsewhere in the county, and they've kept the same plans in place since the decommissioning of Palisades.

“For us, it really was repeating what we’ve been doing since 1979," Adams says.

Some residents who live right by the plant, or have been against it restarting since the beginning, weren't feeling as assured by the presented safety measures.

“Here we go, this grand nuclear experiment for all the world to see, and we’re the guinea pigs," said one member of the public.

“What we’re not talking enough about is just the high potential that we are going to have an accident, if not a catastrophic accident," said a resident who lives close by the plant.

Making sure there is clear communication to neighboring communities if there is an emergency is a top priority, as well as making sure residents also know what to do to keep themselves safe.

“Just as much as it is important for us to talk about what we’ve done to prepare, it’s equally important for the community to look through those materials and have their families be prepared as well," says Adams.

Another question from the public was about the uncertain future of FEMA under the Trump Administration and what it would mean for all of this safety effort. 

FEMA officials say they don't see the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) program going away despite what may happen at the federal level, since REP is required by federal regulation.