Emergency planning is one of the highest priorities for SCE employees at San Onofre.
Utilities and governments have worked together to develop effective emergency response plans for nuclear power plants. These have been developed and tested annually for reliability and practicality, in cooperation with federal, state and local governments and agencies.
Should any emergency occur at SONGS, San Onofre officials would immediately contact local, state and federal authorities. Those groups then make the decision to alert the public, if necessary.
The public would then be notified through the siren system and by government agencies on the Emergency Alert System (EAS) via television and radio announcements.
Upon hearing the sirens, residents should turn on a radio or television and wait for instructions. The EAS message might advise you to stay inside your home with doors and windows closed. Or, it might recommend that you evacuate, depending on the nature of the emergency.
Residents should NOT CALL 911. This emergency number should be used only to report a separate immediate, life-threatening emergency.
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The federal government requires that communities within approximately ten miles of a nuclear power plant be included in an Emergency Planning Zone. Within this zone, specific emergency protective plans have been developed.
All residents within the EPZ receive instructions about emergency plans including protective measures, evacuation routes and shelter locations. These instructions are located in the customer guide section of the Pacific Bell Telephone Book, Orange County South edition.
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The State of California has defined a broader area between 10-20 miles from a plant as a Public Education Zone. Within this zone, the public is informed on preparedness plans. The distance from the plant, however, would make evacuation highly unlikely. Further information is located in the customer guide section of the Pacific Bell Telephone Book, Orange County South and San Diego County North editions.
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