Located approximately 45 miles northeast
of the Palm Beach County International Airport, the St. Lucie Nuclear Power
Plant has been safely providing electrical power since the early 1980’s.
In the unlikely event of an
emergency at the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant, some citizens of Martin and/or St.
Lucie Counties may be evacuated into Palm Beach County for screening and
sheltering if warranted.
Palm Beach County faces a potential
threat to agriculture and surface-sourced drinking water supplies if
contamination were to be detected.
Radiological Terrorism
A Radiological Dispersal Device
(RDD), also called a ‘dirty bomb’, is a weapon used against innocent citizens
with little or no warning and designed to create maximum fear among those in
the affected area and beyond. The chance
of death or great bodily harm to victims by radiation alone from an RDD is
minimal compared to the deadly force from the detonation of the bomb itself.
A Nuclear Explosion is caused by a nuclear weapon. Nuclear explosions cause significant damage and casualties from blast, heat, and radiation over wide areas. Dangerous fallout is harmful dust, ash, and debris from a nuclear explosion. This fallout is most dangerous in the first few hours after the detonation when radiation levels are at their highest. Radiation levels decrease over time.
Palm Beach County emergency response agencies
are involved with preventative detection measures that are designed to stop
radiological terrorism before injury and property damage occurs.
Hazardous Materials
Incident - Toxic Chemical Release
Palm Beach County is home to some businesses
that use potentially dangerous chemicals.
If released, these chemicals could pose a direct threat to the general
public in the area of the affected business.
The immediate threat would be in the form of a poisonous gas which could
cause death or great bodily harm to people and animals.
Palm Beach County Division of Emergency
Management analyzes the facilities in Palm Beach County that store and use
potentially dangerous chemicals.
If a Hazardous Materials Incident happens in
your area, you will be notified to take immediate actions to protect yourself
and those around you.
Protective Actions
In an emergency, local authorities will
issue the appropriate action(s) needed to protect life and safety.
These actions typically include:
Sheltering
in Place: Go inside, Stay Inside, Stay Tuned
Evacuate:
Leave Immediately
It is important that you follow the
directions of law enforcement, fire-rescue personnel, and public officials.