Every two years, each nuclear plant conducts a full-scale emergency exercise involving a confidential emergency scenario to be handled by on-site and off-site emergency response organizations, including plant employees, local hospitals, county emergency management agencies and radiological monitoring teams.

The NRC evaluates the performance of employees during the exercise and identifies improvements in the on-site plan. FEMA evaluates the performance of off-site agencies and identifies improvements in their plans. Every year, Susquehanna plant personnel conduct on-site training drills to practice key skills such as coordination, communication, assessment of the emergency, medical and fire brigade response and radiation dose measurement.

Susquehanna has a large emergency response network consisting of 27 municipalities, county and state governments, school districts, hospitals, fire companies, ambulance and emergency medical services and federal agencies.

The level of response to an event depends on the potential threat to public health and safety.

Emergency Classifications:

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has established four categories for nuclear power plant emergencies. In all cases, PPL notifies regulatory and emergency management agencies, public and elected officials, and the news media.

Unusual event: The lowest of the four emergency classifications established by the NRC. An unusual event means a minor problem is in progress or has occurred that could reduce plant safety. No releases of radioactive material requiring off-site response or monitoring are expected. No action by the general public is required.

Alert: The second lowest of the four emergency classifications established by the NRC. An alert means events are in progress or have occurred that have substantially reduced, or could substantially reduce, plant safety. Any radioactive releases are expected to be below Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for protection of the public. No action by the general public is required. 

Site Area Emergency: The second highest of the four emergency classifications established by the NRC. A site area emergency means events are in progress or have occurred that have affected, or are likely to affect, major plant safety systems. Any radioactive releases are not expected to exceed Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for protection of the public beyond plant property. No action by the general public is required.

General Emergency: The highest of the four emergency classifications established by the NRC. A general emergency means events are imminent, are in progress or have occurred involving substantial damage to the reactor core and failures to plant safety systems that are needed for public protection. Radiation releases are expected to exceed Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for protection of the public beyond plant property. The public would be asked to tune into an Emergency Alert System radio or television station for official information and instructions.

Protective Actions:

In Pennsylvania, only the governor has the authority to order people who live near the plant to take protective action in response to actual or expected plant conditions that could affect public health and safety. The two forms of protective action are:

Sheltering:

Public Notification:

PPL maintains a network of more than 70 sirens in the communities around the company's Susquehanna nuclear power plant. Luzerne and Columbia county officials can use the sirens for any emergency, nuclear or non-nuclear.