Nuclear Reactor Safety Paramount as Hurricane Matthew Hits the U.S.

In anticipation of one of the largest hurricanes to hit the U.S. southeastern coast since Hurricane Wilma in 2005, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has been working on training reactor staff to prepare for Hurricane Matthew reaching the coastline this weekend.

During this past week the staff at Florida Power and Light’s St. Lucie plant in Port St. Lucie began severe weather procedures, which included making sure any equipment or debris that could be affected by wind or water has been removed or secured. The staff also conducted walk-downs of important plant systems and ensured emergency supplies were adequate.

Similar procedures were being done at Turkey Point, south of Miami, another FPL plant, and at Brunswick, a Duke Energy station near Southport, N.C.

Upon completion of these safety procedures and precautions, the NRC verified preparations were completed and gave special attention to the condition of emergency diesel generators that would be used if the plants lose offsite power.

Storm preparations continue to be an important part of the post-Fukushima safety enhancements to make U.S. commercial nuclear plants safer.