Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation Plans

Living Near Seabrook: What You Need to Know

The people who live and work in the communities surrounding Seabrook Station nuclear power plant carry a special responsibility to understand that the risk of an accident — however small — is real. It’s wise to be pro-active and learn what you would do, and where you would go, in the event of a significant radiological release. 

For information on how to get potassium iodide (KI) tablets to protect the thyroid in the event of an emergency, click here.

Seabrook Emergency Brochure for Mass. Communities
There are 23 communities in Seabrook’s Emergency Planning Zone, (EPZ).
Seabrook Emergency Brochure for N.H. Communities
Evacuation Plans

What is an Evacuation Plan? 
What is often called the “evacuation plan” is actually the “emergency plan,” and it includes planning for a range of emergencies and/or disasters at a nuclear plant. Not all emergencies would result in an evacuation order; citizens may instead be directed to “shelter in place.”

Why does Seabrook Station need an emergency plan? 
 At Seabrook Station, as with all commercial nuclear power generating facilities, an emergency could result in a radioactive release affecting public health and safety. Plant operators, as well as federal, state and local officials, are required to have emergency plans in place. These agencies communicate regularly and conduct joint preparedness drills.

Who develops the Evacuation Plan? 
The plans for offsite emergency response are developed by state and local officials, and are reviewed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The New Hampshire Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) maintain the state’s nuclear power plant off-site emergency plans, including annual reviews and updates. Plans and procedures for Massachusetts are reviewed annually by the Mass. Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and revised as necessary.

Under the oversight of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and FEMA, the emergency plans are reviewed, drilled and evaluated regularly to ensure they meet regulatory standards. You can view Seabrook's 2012 Evacuation Time Study, here.

What area is covered by the Evacuation Plan? 
There are two Emergency Planning Zones (EPZs) around a commercial nuclear power plant:
  • Plume Exposure Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ): A 10-mile radius surrounding the nuclear plant where people may be harmed by radiation exposure. This is the “evacuation zone” around nuclear plants required by NRC regulations.
  • Ingestion Exposure Pathway EPZ: a geographical area extending 50-miles beyond a nuclear power plant, where radioactive materials could contaminate water, food and livestock. Evacuation plans are not established for this zone.
Cities & Towns in Seabrook’s Emergency Planning Zone:
Seventeen New Hampshire communities fall within Seabrook’s 10-mile EPZ: Brentwood, East Kingston, Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, Kingston, New Castle, Newfields, Newton, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rye, Seabrook, South Hampton, and Stratham. In Massachusetts, this zone includes: Amesbury, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Salisbury and West Newbury. About 170,000 people live in these communities.

How can I find out what the plan is for my location? 
Residents within the EPZ is area are given emergency information about radiation, evacuation routes, special arrangements for handicapped, via the Emergency Public Information brochure supplied by each state. If you live, work, or vacation within the 10-mile EPZ, you should be prepared for an emergency at Seabrook and be familiar with the EPZ’s emergency plans and procedures; that is, whether the directive is to “shelter in place” or evacuate. If you need a copy of the brochure, you can  get one at your local fire station, or download with the links at the top of this page.
Download an Emergency Planning Checklist
How will I be notified of an emergency or accident at the Seabrook plant? 
Outdoor emergency sirens will make a steady three to five minute sound. If you hear a siren, go inside your home or a nearby building. The sirens will also be able to broadcast special emergency messages to alert people at the New Hampshire. beaches.

Tune a radio to an Emergency Alert System (EAS) station. 
 These stations will broadcast an emergency message that will provide you with any actions you should take to protect yourself and your family. Staying tuned to the radio might be all you’ll need to do, or you may be told to take different actions if emergency conditions change. Tune in to: 97.5 FM (WOKQ) 106.1 FM (W291CC) or 1450 AM (WNBP). Boaters in the area will be alerted by the U.S. Coast Guard. Channels 16 and 22 on marine radio will also give boaters information. Local emergency management officials — sometimes the town’s fire chief — are the primary contact in case of a nuclear emergency.
Warning sirens are throughout the 10-mile EPZ.

Free KI tablets available to area residents


In the event of a serious emergency at a nuclear power plant, the immediate critical issue that could impact public health is the radioactive iodine released into the air, emitting potentially lethal radiation at a very high rate. This requires the ingestion of potassium iodide (KI) pills to protect the thyroid gland, especially in persons under 40 years of age. This ingestion should occur within minutes if possible.


KI should only be taken if directed by public health officials. It is helpful for 24 hours and should be taken until the public health officials says to stop or you are out of the emergency area. It's a wise idea for people who live and work near a nuclear plant to keep these tablets as part of their emergency kit. The pills typically last for 5-10 years, so check your medicine cabinet to see if it's time to get new ones.

 

In the Massachusetts communities within Seabrook Station’s 10-mile emergency planning zone (EPZ), KI tablets are available for free through the local health departments (see table below). In most cases, residents can walk in and pick up tables for their family members during normal business hours for the town or city. You may want to call ahead to confirm the appropriate staff member is there to help you. Schools stockpile the pills and parents are asked to sign a permission slip for KI to be administered to children in the event of a radiological emergency.

 

In New Hampshire there is an easy to complete online form, once completed there is an indication that it can take about 10 days for your request to be processed.

 

For more info on how potassium iodide works and why it's important to keep some on hand if you live near a nuclear plant, visit our blog post: Got KI? or check out Questions and Answers about Potassium Iodide (KI) American Thyroid Association.


Where to get KI 

Community Address Contact More info
Amesbury 29 South Hunt Road Deb Ketchen: (978) 388-8129 Amesbury Public Health Department
Merrimac 2 School Street Deb Ketchen: (978) 804-9534 Merrimac Public Health Department
Newbury 12 Kent Way Deborah Rogers: (978) 465-0862 Newbury Public Health Department
Newburyport 60 Pleasant Street Frank Giacalone: (978) 465-4410 Newburyport Public Health Department
Salisbury 5 Beach Road John Morris: (978) 462-3430 Salisbury Public Health Department
West Newbury 381 Main Street Paul Sevigny: (978) 363-1100 x119 West Newbury Health Department
New Hampshire There is a KI form to fill out More information at ReadyNH.gov
For more information, find links here. You can also visit the N.H. HSEM’s Nuclear Power Plant page, or Mass. MEMA’s page on Seabrook Nuclear Power Station. On these websites, you can learn about event classifications, evacuation routes, information for farmers, tips for planning & supplies to have, and where to get potassium iodide tablets to protect your thyroid in the event of a radiological accident at Seabrook. 

More and more communities are facing natural disasters and other emergencies. During the summer of 2021, 1 in 3 Americans lived in counties that experienced wildfires, major storms, or severe flooding. While the impacts of climate change and other crises can be overwhelming, taking the time to learn and prepare for the worst can help you feel more empowered and in control of your family's safety.


For those of us who live within 10-miles of a nuclear power plant as 3 million Americans do, we bear an extra burden, and risk—however unlikely an accident may be. C-10 has compiled this resource sheet to get you thinking about how you can be prepared, come whatever may.


Download your checklist!