Emergency Classification Levels
If an emergency is declared at the Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant, it would be categorized into one of four emergency levels.
- Unusual Event: Events are in process or have occurred which indicate a potential
degradation in the level of safety of the plant or indicate a security
threat to facility protection has been initiated. No releases of
radioactive material requiring offsite response or monitoring are
expected unless further degradation of safety systems occurs.
- Alert: Events are
in process or have occurred which involve an actual or potential
substantial degradation in the level of safety of the plant or a
security event that involves probably life threatening risk to site
personnel or damage to site equipment because of HOSTILE ACTION. Any
releases are expected to be limited to small fractions of the EPA
Protective Action Guideline exposure levels.
- Site Area Emergency: Events are in process or have occurred that involve actual or likely
major failures in plant functions needed for protection of the public or
HOSTILE ACTION that results in intentional damage or malicious acts;
(1) toward site personnel or equipment that could lead to the likely
failure of or; (2) prevent effective access to, equipment needed for the
protection of the public. Any releases are not expected to result in
exposure levels which exceed the EPA Protective Action Guideline
exposure levels beyond the site boundary.
- General Emergency: Events
are in process or have occurred which involve actual or imminent
substantial core degradation or melting with potential for loss of
containment integrity or HOSTILE ACTION that result in an actual loss of
physical control of the facility. Releases can be reasonably expected
to exceed EPA Protective Action Guideline exposure levels offsite for
more than the immediate site area.
Before an Emergency at Seabrook Station
- If you live or work in the EPZ, obtain your Seabrook Station Emergency Preparedness Brochure
- Be informed by receiving alerts, warnings, and public safety information before, during, and after emergencies.
- Learn about local warning procedures in your community,
including outdoor sirens or horns or automated telephoning systems used
for sending emergency notifications.
- CodeRED will call all published landlines in the Emergency
Planning Zone. If you have an unpublished number or would like to be
notified via email or your smartphone, sign up for Seabrook Station Notifications via CodeRED.
- Build an Emergency Kit.
- The State of New Hampshire has made potassium iodide, also known as KI, available to people who live or work in the emergency planning zone at no charge. In the unlikely event of a radiological emergency, the state may recommend individuals take KI. Order KI here or download the NH DHHS KI Application Form .
- Have a Family Emergency Plan and review it as a family.
- Be prepared to evacute or shelter in place. If you go, they go - DO NOT leave your household pets behind. Prepare an emergency kit for your pet: collar and leash or pet carrier, 3-day supply of food, bowls, litter box, current photo, proof of rabies vaccination, and a one-week supply of necessary medications.
- Let your local Emergency Management Director (EMD) know in advance if you need any assistance during an emergency. If you
or someone in your household would need notification or assistance with
emergency sheltering-in-place, evacuating, or staying in a mass care
shelter, let your EMD know or fill out the Access and Functional Needs form to provide your information. Fill out the Access and Functional Needs form.
During an Emergency: How You Will Be Notified
In the unlikely event of a nuclear emergency that requires you to take
action, you will be alerted through emergency alert system radio and
television stations, CodeRED, NHAlerts, wireless emergency alerts, outdoor warning sirens and marine radio channels 16 and 22.
- The outdoor warning sirens will make a steady three to five minute sound.
- If you receive an emergency alert, go inside your home or a nearby building and turn your radio or smart speaker to the emergency alert system station WOKQ 97.5 FM.
- Sign up for Seabrook Station emergency alerts and NHAlerts today.
- Safety instructions may be given to you at any hour, day or night, and will include recommendations as to what you should do for your protection. Follow instructions carefully. Information will be provided and reboardcast regularly.
- Check with your neighbors, especially the elderly or persons who have difficulty hearing or seeing, to make sure they have received the warning and know what to do.
During an Emergency: If Told to Evacuate
If an evacuation is necessary, public safety officials will tell you over the emergency
alert system radio station what to do. DO NOT evacuate unless directed to do so
by public safety officials.
- Only take what you will need, including: extra clothing,
toiletries, blankets, pillows, towels, prescription medications and
medical supplies, checkbook, credit card, cash, baby supplies, special
dietary foods, driver’s license or identification
- Take your pets with you - do not leave your household pets behind.
- DO NOT try to pick up children at their schools.
The school will transport your child to the community's reception center where you can be reunited.
- DO NOT call your local fire or police departments for information. Emergency workers will need their telephone lines for emergency use. If you need special help, call your local Emergency Management Office.
- Stay tuned to your emergency alert radio station WOKQ 97.5 FM.
- If you have family members in a hospital or nursing home, stay
tuned to an emergency alert system station. Patients may be released to
family members or moved to another location.
- Household members outside the area may be advised not to return
during an evacuation. They will be directed to the reception center
where they can join you.
- If you have questions or need information, call 2-1-1. Only call 9-1-1 if you need to request help during an emergency.
- Secure your home and check with neighbors to see if they need assistance.
- Follow the established evacuation routes to the reception center.
Reception centers are opened to monitor evacuees for radiological
contamination. After checking in at the reception center, short-term
housing and food is available at mass care shelters.
- If you need a ride, try to get one with neighbors.
- If you cannot get a ride, find information on your town's respective evacuation map.
Walk to one of the routes shown as a solid line. Buses will pick up
riders anywhere along these routes. If a bus is full, another will come
along. Buses will take riders to their town's repsective reception center.
- If you cannot get to the bus routes or pick-up points, contact your
local Emergency Management Office. Emergency workers will arrange
transportation for you.
- If you have livestock, shelter them. Leave them a three-day supply
of stored feed and water that has been protected from possible
contamination.
How to Travel
- While traveling in the car, keep all windows and vents closed until you have left the EPZ.
- Keep the car radio tuned to an EAS station.
- Drive out of the area along one of the Seabrook Evacuation Routes as shown and described on evacuation maps.
The use of these suggested main roads will expedite the movement of
evacuating traffic away from Seabrook Station and to the reception
centers.
Pets
If you go, they go. Do not leave your household pets behind. Prepare an emergency kit for your pet: collar, leash, 3-day supply of
food, bowls, litter box, current photo, and necessary medications. Proof
of current rabies vaccination is required for admission into any
shelter. Use a pet carrier for each pet to make transport easier.
More information about pets, sheltering and evacuations, including what types of animals will be allowed, can by found at FEMA.gov
Farmers
A fact sheet is available for farmers, food processors and food distributors located within 50 miles of the Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant. If you have questions, call the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food at 603-271-3551.
Potassium Iodide (KI)
Potassium iodide is a drug that can protect the thyroid gland from radiation injury caused by radio-active iodine. The drug is approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is available over-the-counter. In the event of a radiological emergency, broadcasts over Emergency Alert System radio stations will tell people if the New Hampshire Division of Public Health advises them to take KI. Download the NH DHHS KI Application Form .
Reception Centers
Reception centers are opened to monitor evacuees for radiological contamination. After checking in at the reception center, short-term housing and food is available at mass care shelters.
COMMUNITY: |
RECEPTION CENTER LOCATION: |
Brentwood |
Memorial High School
1 Crusader Way (via S. Porter St)
Manchester, NH |
East Kingston |
Exeter |
Hampton Beach Visitors |
Kensington |
Kingston |
Newfields |
Newton |
Seabrook |
South Hampton |
Stratham |
COMMUNITY: |
RECEPTION CENTER LOCATION: |
Greenland |
Dover Middle School
16 Daley Dr (off NH RT 108)
Dover, NH |
Hampton |
Hampton Falls |
New Castle |
North Hampton |
Rye |
COMMUNITY: |
RECEPTION CENTER LOCATION: |
Portsmouth |
Rochester Middle School
47 Brock St
Rochester, NH |
Do You Require Evacuation Assistance in an Emergency?
In addition to the traditional annual calendar emergency assistance card, New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management (NH HSEM) is now offering the option to submit or change the same information online at any time. NH HSEM utilizes this information to properly assist and evacuate individuals with disabilities, access, and functional needs in the area of the Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant in the event of an emergency. Even if you have submitted your information, we ask residents to submit their information each year.
During an Emergency: If Told to Shelter-in-Place
You may be instructed to shelter-in-place. This means you
should immediately go inside the nearest available building. If you are
already inside, stay there. Sheltering-in-place may provide the best
protection. If a shelter-in-place message is given for your area, you
should do the following:
- Go indoors and keep all children and pets inside.
- Close all doors and windows. Turn off all window fans, clothes
dryers, kitchen and bath exhaust fans, air conditioners, and other
sources of outside air, unless told to do otherwise.
- Monitor your emergency alert radio station WOKQ 97.5 FM.
- If sheltering in place is recommended during school hours, children will be
sheltered at the school and cared for by school personnel.
- If you have questions or need information call 2-1-1. Only call 9-1-1 if you need to request help.
- If you are traveling in a motor vehicle in the affected area, close
the windows and air vents. If you are a visitor, leave the area
immediately, or go inside a nearby public building.
- If you have livestock, shelter them too. Give them stored feed and water from a covered source.
Children in School or Child Care
During emergencies, most schools in the emergency planning zone will release students early. If your community is instructed to evacute before you have been able to pick up your child, the school will transport your child to the community's reception center where you can be reunited.
After an Emergency at Seabrook Station
- Continue to monitor the media for emergency information.
- Follow instructions from public safety officials.
- Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies. Call 2-1-1 to obtain shelter locations and other disaster information.
- If you have evacuated, return home only when authorities say it is safe to do so.
- If you have been advised to shelter in place, do not leave your home until officials announce that it is safe to do so.
- Be a good neighbor. Check on family, friends, and neighbors,
especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical
conditions and those who may need additional assistance.
- For guidance to members of the agricultural community with farms, food processing facilities and distributing facilities within 50 miles of a nuclear power station, see: Radiological Emergency Inforation for Farmers, Food Processors and Distributors.
Emergency Evacuation Maps
Important Telephone Numbers
Always call 9-1-1 for emergencies. Call 2-1-1 to obtain shelter locations and other emergency information.
For Information During an Emergency:
NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management: 1-800-458-2407
TDD/TTY: 1-800-735-2964
Non-Emergency Phone Numbers:
NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management: 1-800-852-3792
TDD/TTY: 1-800-735-2964
Brentwood Emergency Management: 603-642-8132
East Kingston Emergency Management: 603-642-3141
Exeter Emergency Management: 603-772-3843
Greenland Emergency Management: 603-431-7111
Hampton Emergency Management: 603-926-3316
Hampton Falls Emergency Management: 603-929-4611
Kensington Emergency Management: 603-772-1047
Kingston Emergency Management: 603-642-3626
New Castle Emergency Management: 603-436-1132
Newfields Emergency Management: 603-778-0311
Newton Emergency Management: 603-382-1610
North Hampton Emergency Management: 603-964-7248
Portsmouth Emergency Management: 603-427-1580
Rye Emergency Management: 603-964-5896
Seabrook Emergency Management: 603-474-5772
South Hampton Emergency Management: 603-394-0243
Stratham Emergency Management: 603-772-5936