FEMA schedules Three Mile Island area preparedness drill

FEMA has scheduled an emergency-preparedness exercise for the week of April 13 in Pennsylvania to assess the state’s disaster-preparedness ability in the event of an emergency at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in Central Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River.

The Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program was created to protect citizens living near commercial nuclear power plants and to educate the public about vigilance. REP is responsible for planning and preparedness activities that take place outside of nuclear power plant sites; on-site activities are handled by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

“These drills are held every other year to evaluate government’s ability to protect public health and safety,”  MaryAnn Tierney, FEMA's Region III administrator, said. “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 Pennsylvania.”

After the exercise, FEMA will present its initial findings in a public meeting at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 17, at the Hilton Garden Inn at 3943 Tecport Drive in Harrisburg. Questions or comments may be submitted in writing and can be accepted during or following the meeting.

FEMA Region III’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.