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Mrs. Overall

(6,839 posts)
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 08:43 PM Sep 2018

Six nuclear power plants are in Hurricane Florence's path, officials say

Source: CNN

Federal officials expressed confidence the six nuclear power plants in Hurricane Florence's path are safe, but some experts aren't so sure, warning that flooding and torrential rains could overwhelm their defenses.

The six nuclear power plants in North and South Carolina sit directly in the storm's projected path, according to Mary Catherine Green, spokeswoman for Duke Energy, which owns all six. Duke's Brunswick Nuclear Plant and its Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant near Raleigh, both in North Carolina, are the closest to where the hurricane is forecast to make landfall, Green said.

In a press briefing, Jeff Byard, associate administrator for the FEMA Office of Response and Recovery, said the agency was not concerned about the power plants in the storm's path "at this time." "Those power plants are, one, obviously hardened. Two, they have backup generators for power and we will rapidly assess any impacts to a nuclear power plant post-storm," Byard said in a call with media. "Obviously, it's something that we track and monitor but at this time we're not concerned with any issues pertaining to the nuclear power plants."

However, The Union of Concerned Scientists, a science-oriented public policy organization, is concerned about the Brunswick plant's ability to withstand the storm, because of what the group says is a lack of publicly available information about the plant's readiness. According to the group, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has not released public information validating that the plant has been properly updated to protect against flooding.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/12/us/nuclear-plants-hurricane/index.html?utm_source=twCNN&utm_content=2018-09-13T00%3A11%3A05&utm_term=image&utm_medium=social

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Six nuclear power plants are in Hurricane Florence's path, officials say (Original Post) Mrs. Overall Sep 2018 OP
They're built to withstand tsunamis... milestogo Sep 2018 #1
I hope they are right because this could be a great big OH SHIT! GemDigger Sep 2018 #2
K&R for exposure diva77 Sep 2018 #3
From my nightmares to your thread... saidsimplesimon Sep 2018 #4
Fukushima II rpannier Sep 2018 #5
"Post Storm" Cold War Spook Sep 2018 #6
They better have made sure extra people are on hand....... ROB-ROX Sep 2018 #7
Republican Rule No.1: Deny everything - before and after. KY_EnviroGuy Sep 2018 #8

saidsimplesimon

(7,888 posts)
4. From my nightmares to your thread...
Wed Sep 12, 2018, 09:06 PM
Sep 2018

It amazes me, don't know why it still should, that so few news outlets even mention this danger. Then again, there really is nothing to be done if the private or public owners have not prepared for this potential disaster.

I think (hope) we will dodge this bullet, but the loss of lives from flooding and other storm related deaths will be heart breaking. imo

 

Cold War Spook

(1,279 posts)
6. "Post Storm"
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 08:50 AM
Sep 2018

What, do they send everyone home before the hurricane hits so they can board up their windows?

ROB-ROX

(767 posts)
7. They better have made sure extra people are on hand.......
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 11:37 AM
Sep 2018

I worked at a nuclear reactor. The containment dome is designed to withstand a great force. What is not save is emergency power to run the reactor. I hope they scheduled extra workers to work during the storm? Extra people may be required to provide safety support. Maybe we should just write off these states now???

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
8. Republican Rule No.1: Deny everything - before and after.
Thu Sep 13, 2018, 12:03 PM
Sep 2018

Let's hope none of these plants lose cooling water pumps and that their backup generators are reliable. I am grateful the NRC requires extraordinary procedures in preparation for these events, and that tRump's people don't have their fingers in that pie.

Thank goodness they have plenty of time to prepare and I hope they're ready for a long ordeal.

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