VA Business Toolkit
Citizen Corps
How can we make this site better?
Let us know ...
Virginia Department of Emergency Management
10501 Trade Court, Richmond, VA 23236
CONTACT:
Bob Spieldenner (VDEM) -- (804) 897-6510
FOR RELEASE AT WILL - July 14, 2008
RICHMOND, VA - Response personnel from state and local government and Dominion will demonstrate their ability to protect the public health and safety in a two-day exercise July 22-23 for the utility's North Anna Power Station. This year's exercise will involve localities within 50 miles of the power station.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management will lead the Virginia Operations Plan Exercise, or VOPEX, a simulated radiological emergency, to help state and local governments test their response procedures in the unlikely event of a radiological emergency. These annual exercises rotate between the Surry and North Anna nuclear power stations. Multi-day drills occur every six years to address response procedures beyond the 10 miles immediately surrounding the power station.
Response agencies and local government representatives will role-play their emergency operations functions from the state and local government emergency operations centers. Participating localities include the cities of Charlottesville, Fredericksburg and Richmond and the counties of Albemarle, Amelia, Buckingham, Caroline, Chesterfield, Culpeper, Cumberland, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Hanover, Henrico, King George, King and Queen, King William, Louisa, Madison, New Kent, Orange, Page, Powhatan, Prince William, Rappahannock, Richmond, Rockingham, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Westmoreland, as well as Charles County in Maryland.
Law enforcement personnel will practice traffic control measures in the field. Local and state radiological monitoring teams will take simulated field readings and communicate via radio.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will monitor the progress of the drill and conduct an in-depth analysis of the results, detailing areas needing improvement. FEMA will review the success of the exercise at a public meeting on July 25 at 2 p.m. at the Fredericksburg Hospitality House and Conference Center.