WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
In Berrien County, emergency alerts are sent through several different systems. IPAWS wireless emergency alerts, B-WARN! alerts, NOAA Weather Radio alerts, and broadcasts over TV and radio are used to let you know a serious emergency is happening. Such emergencies include a nuclear accident, chemical spill, severe weather, or another dangerous condition that requires you to take action for safety. Learn more about IPAWS online by visiting the Emergency Management & Homeland Security Division webpage at www.bcsheriff.org/emhsd and clicking on the “Public Warning Systems” tab in the sidebar.
IPAWS is FEMA’s national alert warning system that delivers messages via WEA, EAS, and NOAA Weather Radio. You will need to sign up for the other alert system the county uses, called B-WARN!
B-WARN! is a system you sign up for. It allows you to enter landline phone numbers, cell numbers, text message numbers, pagers, email addresses, and fax numbers to be alerted in an emergency. This system also allows you to enter addresses for places you want to be alerted about even if you are not there, such as a child’s school or your home while you are away. Learn more and sign up at https://member.everbridge.net/index/892807736721604.
You may also use the link above to sign in to an existing B-WARN! account to verify or update your contact information.
If you receive an emergency alert while vacationing or visiting the area, follow the instructions included in the alert. If you are outdoors, seek shelter indoors. Tune to one of the TV or radio stations listed in the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section below. Follow all directions given by park officials, sheriff’s deputies, and police officers.
If you receive an emergency alert while boating, do not wait for further warning. Tune to marine channel 16 (156.8 MHz) or an area AM/FM radio station listed below for emergency information. Mariners are encouraged to keep their radios tuned to channel 16 when on Lake Michigan to receive emergency information. Marine patrol boats will also warn boaters on Lake Michigan if there is a serious emergency. You will be told the location of safe waterways and docking areas.
If you receive an emergency alert while camping, hiking, swimming or visiting area parks, follow all emergency instructions from park officials. At Warren Dunes and Grand Mere State Parks, officials will use the public address system or mobile alert units to let you know what to do. At other local parks, immediately tune to an area radio station listed in the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section below.
Download, print, and keep this Cook Nuclear Plant Emergency Information Card PDF in your car or on your boat. You may also request a printed card at your campground or marina office.
The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management & Homeland Security Division uses two alert systems simultaneously to warn the community of emergencies: IPAWS and B-WARN!. Together, they will inform people in Berrien County when protective action should be taken for emergencies. Messages will be sent to residents, workers, visitors, boaters, campers, and travelers in the county.
The Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) is FEMA's national system for local alerting. It delivers consistent, authenticated emergency and life-saving information to you and the public through mobile phones using Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), to radio and television via the Emergency Alert System (EAS), and on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Radio (NOAA). IPAWS messages will tell you where to seek more information so you can act quickly.
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are short, text-like emergency messages that come from authorized federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial public alerting authorities. These alerts are broadcast from cell towers to any WEA-enabled mobile device in a locally targeted area. WEA has a unique tone and vibration — both repeated twice. If your wireless carrier participates in the WEA system, you will receive emergency alerts automatically. There is no need to download an app. To find out if your phone can receive Wireless Emergency Alerts, contact your wireless provider. All the major providers participate in WEA voluntarily. There is no charge to your wireless data plan when you receive WEA messages.
To ensure that you receive WEA alerts:
- Contact your cell phone provider to see if they participate in WEA and if your phone is capable of receiving alerts.
- Turn off your “airplane mode” setting.
- Check your notification settings menu. Turn on the “local alerts” setting. Settings may be slightly different for each device on the market.
If your cell phone provider does not participate in WEA, make sure to sign up for Berrien County’s B-WARN!. It’s easy. See the instructions on this page.
EAS Messages Are Sent Through TV and Radio Stations
All of the 24-hour TV and radio stations listed in the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio
and TV Stations” section below are part of the EAS. Some of the stations may experience a delay in
getting emergency information out due to computerized programming or limited broadcast
scheduling. Check all of the listed stations until you find one that is broadcasting emergency
information.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Radio (NOAA)
This is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information, 24 hours per day, directly from the nearest National Weather Service (NWS) office. (Our station is in Northern Indiana.) NOAA Weather Radio can send out warnings and post-event information for all types of hazards, including weather (tornadoes, blizzards); natural disasters (floods, earthquakes, forest fires); chemical spills or releases, nuclear power plant emergencies, and national emergencies (terrorist attacks).
Boaters, if you receive an emergency alert, immediately tune to the marine channel 16 (156.8 MHz) or an area radio or TV station listed in the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section below and follow the instructions. You will be told the location of safe waterways and docking areas. Marine patrol boats will also warn boaters on Lake Michigan if there is a serious emergency.
B-WARN! is an “opt-in” notification service that allows the Berrien County Sheriff's Office to alert you during an emergency. When you sign up, you choose how you want to be notified. This includes receiving voice messages on your landline phone, text messages on your cell phone, as well as emails, pagers, and faxes. When you register, you also designate the locations where you want the county to send the B-WARN! messages.
In the event of an IPAWS outage, Berrien County will use the B-WARN! system to send emergency alerts and messages out.
They will use the contact information you provide when you sign up for B-WARN!. Berrien County will also use contact information they have acquired in other databases to attempt to reach anyone who has not been able to sign up for B-WARN!. Please register online for B-WARN! today so the county has your most up-to-date contact information.
Sign up or sign in to your B-WARN! account here:
To sign up for a new B-WARN! account or to log in to your existing account, visit the Berrien
County B-WARN! Login.
If you believe, for whatever reason, the above methods will not alert you, please fill out and submit this year’s Functional Needs Emergency Information and Registry at www.berriencounty.org/extrahelplist.
Because of the many safeguards and highly skilled people operating the Cook Nuclear Plant, it is very unlikely that a serious event will ever occur here. Chances of you having to seek shelter or evacuate because of a nuclear emergency are very remote. In most cases, evacuation is ordered as a safety measure before any danger can come to you or your family. Federal law, however, requires that the public be told what to do in case of a significant release of radioactive material from the Cook Nuclear Plant.
In the unlikely event of an emergency at the Cook Nuclear Plant, four terms will be used to describe the situation. These emergency classifications include (1) Unusual Event, (2) Alert, (3) Site Area Emergency, and (4) General Emergency. Explanations are below.
Sometimes, you will hear news about a drill or an exercise involving the Cook Nuclear Plant. That is because federal, state, county, and plant officials are required by law to participate regularly in drills and exercises so they are prepared in case of an emergency.
If you receive an emergency alert, listen to an area TV or radio station for emergency information (see the list in the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section below) and follow the instructions.
Remember, you will receive an emergency alert if sheltering or evacuation is necessary. See the sheltering and evacuation sections for more info.
Four Emergency Classifications
- Unusual Event: a minor problem at the Cook Nuclear Plant that varies from normal or routine operations. No release of radioactive material is expected. Cook Plant officials will notify federal, state, and county officials. You will not have to do anything
- Alert: an abnormal plant condition that could result in a small release of radioactive material inside the plant. This is still considered a minor event. Cook Plant officials will notify federal, state, and county officials to stand by. It is not likely that you will have to do anything.
- Site Area Emergency: a more serious situation that could result in a release of radioactive material around the plant site. All federal, state, and county officials will be ready to help if needed. Protective measures may be required to ensure the safety of the public in a limited area near the plant site boundary. If so, you will receive an emergency alert. Tune in immediately to an area TV or radio station (see the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section below) to learn whether you will need to seek shelter or evacuate.
- General Emergency: the most serious situation possible at the Cook Nuclear Plant. It could result in the release of a large amount of radioactive material outside the plant boundary. All federal, state, and county officials will provide help as needed. Protective measures may be required to ensure the safety of the public as far as 10 miles from the plant. The Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), IPAWS, B-WARN!, and NOAA marine radios direct you to tune into area TV and radio stations (see the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section below) if shelter or evacuation is necessary.
Two other key terms: radiation and contamination
- Radiation refers to the particles and waves given off by radioactive material. It is a form of energy that occurs naturally and artificially. We are exposed to it every day. However, radiation could be harmful to your health and safety if the levels are high enough and the exposure lasts long enough.
- Contamination is when radioactive material is where it is not supposed to be. Food, water, or air is considered contaminated if it contains more or different types of radioactive material than would be normally present. Our bodies, for example, contain very small amounts of the radioactive elements potassium-40, carbon-14, and tritium. We are not considered to be contaminated because these elements exist within us naturally. However, the presence of strontium-90 (a possible byproduct of a nuclear power plant emergency) in food, air, or water can indicate contamination.
Radiation is a Natural Fact of Life - Radiation is a form of energy like light or sunshine. There is radiation all around us. We are exposed to small amounts of radioactive materials every moment of our lives.
How we measure radiation - You cannot see, taste, hear, or smell ionizing radiation. But we can measure it with special instruments. We use a unit called a millirem (mRem) to measure ionizing radiation.
On average, a person living in the U.S. receives about 620 mRem per year from all radiation sources. A person living within 10 miles of the Cook Nuclear Plant receives about 485 mRem because we live at a low elevation that is not near any radioactive rock formations. About 310 mRem of the total we receive comes from man-made sources, primarily medical testing. Only a tiny fraction of one percent of the man-made radiation would come from the Cook Plant.
Natural Background Radiation is in the Air We Breathe
The sun covers our planet with cosmic radiation. Some rocks and minerals give off small amounts of radiation. One source you may be familiar with is radon gas. Many building materials contain radiation. In fact, radioactive particles are in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. Even our bodies are slightly radioactive. These sources of radiation are called natural background radiation.
Radiation includes things such as light, heat, and radio waves. However, when we speak of radiation, we usually mean “ionizing” radiation. This radiation can produce high-energy, charged particles called “ions” in the materials it strikes.
The Main Types Of Ionizing Radiation Are:
- Alpha particles, which can be stopped by a sheet of paper.
- Beta particles, which can be stopped by a thin sheet of metal.
- Gamma rays, which can be stopped almost completely by three feet of concrete.
- Neutron particles, which can be stopped by water, concrete, and metal.
Just as too much exposure to the sun can cause painful sunburn, too much exposure to certain levels and types of radiation can have harmful effects. You would, however, have to be exposed to radiation doses over 20,000 mRem within a day to produce effects measurable by a trained doctor. Very large doses of 50,000 to 100,000 mRem are required before you would feel any ill effects.
The amount of exposure from radiation depends on:
- Length of time you are exposed.
- How far you are from the source of radiation.
- Which part of your body is exposed.
- How much material you inhale or take into your body.
Your health or physical condition can affect your reaction to radiation exposure. For example, you should be aware that unborn babies and very young children are more likely to be harmed by radiation exposure.
The less radiation you are exposed to, the less chance you have of receiving any harmful effects. That is why it is so important to have an emergency plan in place near a nuclear power plant. We need to treat radiation with both caution and common sense.
Cook Nuclear Plant workers regularly check radiation levels both inside and outside the plant. In the unlikely event of a serious nuclear accident at the plant, state and federal health experts would be called in to take radiation readings beyond the plant site boundary. These readings would determine what steps, if any, you, your family, and co-workers would need to take to protect yourselves.
Radioactive iodine (radioiodine) is one of the products that could be released in the unlikely event of a serious nuclear power plant accident. Potassium iodide (KI) is a non-radioactive form of iodine that may be taken to reduce the amount of radioactive iodine absorbed by the body’s thyroid gland. KI offers protection only to the thyroid gland, and its use would be to supplement evacuation and in-place sheltering. Evacuation and in-place sheltering are the primary means of protection in a radiological emergency.
State and county officials will use the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to notify the public of the need to evacuate, to shelter in place, or to take KI. KI is available to persons within 10 miles of the Cook Nuclear Plant through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
Detailed instructions on the MDHHS distribution of KI can be found in the Potassium Iodide (KI) section below or at www.michigan.gov/ki. It is necessary to pick up your KI prior to an emergency situation at the plant. Complete your voucher and take it to a participating pharmacy at your earliest convenience. You will NOT be able to get KI from the pharmacy during a nuclear plant emergency.
People who are allergic to iodine should not use KI. In the event of an allergic reaction, contact a doctor.
Emergency situations often catch people off guard. A good way to stay safe in an emergency is to know what to do ahead of time. Here are six steps you can take now to make sure you, your family, and your co-workers are prepared to handle any emergency.
- After you read this Emergency Plan information, please share it with your family or co-workers. Display the Cook Nuclear Plant Emergency Information calendar you received in the mail where you can find it quickly when you need it.
- Keep the following items together in a safe, easy-to-get-to place:
- Emergency cash
- Important papers
- First-aid kit
- Extra keys
- Prescription medicines
- Checkbook
- Debit cards
- Portable radio
- Extra batteries
- Flashlight
- Pet supplies
- Credit cards
- Personal identification
- Potassium iodide (KI) if obtained in advance
- Make a list of personal instructions that you, your family, or co-workers will need to follow in an emergency. Keep a list of supplies you will need with the instructions.
- Keep your vehicle in good running order. Fill your gas tank whenever it gets below half. If you do not have a car or do not have someone to drive you in an emergency, fill out the online Functional Needs form and submit it.
- If you know people who have functional needs, make sure they complete the online Functional Needs form. This may include anyone with vision or hearing impairments, physical or mental disabilities, or someone who has no means of transportation. Please help them fill out the online Functional Needs form and submit it right away. We have an emergency team ready to help people reach safety.
- If you know someone who is vision-impaired or has difficulty reading, please assist them by reading to them the information on this Emergency Plan page and in the printed calendar. Display the Cook Nuclear Plant Emergency Calendar that came in the mail in a visible location so others can assist the person who has functional needs.
To print a copy of this guide, download and print the Emergency Planning Guide PDF.
For additional emergency preparedness tips and an online planning guide: Visit the Sheriff Office’s Resources & Guides page for links to helpful federal, state, and local websites.
It is very important that everyone stays safe during an emergency. If you or someone you know has a functional need, such as vision or hearing impairments, physical or mental disabilities, or no means of transportation or ability to be alerted, please inform the county.
For anyone who might need special help in an emergency
If you know someone with a functional need, volunteer to help them in an emergency. This is especially important if that person lives within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (view the map).
- Fill out and submit this year’s Functional Needs Emergency Information and Registry at www.berriencounty.org/extrahelplist.
- The functional needs information will be kept confidential.
- Each person needing assistance, even if living together at the same address, should fill out the online form to notify us of each person’s needs.
- You must fill out a new form online every year. Do this as soon as you receive your new calendar.
When you register online for yourself or another person, the Berrien County Emergency Management & Homeland Security Division enters the information in the B-WARN! system. Then they can alert you quickly and contact you in an emergency.
When you receive an IPAWS or B-WARN! alert, tune to one of these radio or TV stations for emergency information. All call letters are accurate at the time of printing. All stations are on the air 24 hours. Check your cable or satellite provider for your channel lineup.
Some of the stations may experience a delay in getting emergency information out due to computerized programming or limited broadcast scheduling. Check all of the listed stations until you find one that is broadcasting emergency information.
Follow all broadcast instructions promptly. The radio or TV announcer will tell you what actions you should take, if any.
AM Radio
WHFB - 1060
WNIL - 1290
WSJM - 1400
FM RADIO
WAUS - 90.7
WSJM - 94.9
WTRC - 95.3
WEFM - 95.9
WCOE - 96.7
WRRA - 97.5
WCXT - 98.3
WYTZ - 99.9
WAOR - 102.7
WCSY - 103.7
WQYQ - 106.1
WIRX - 107.1
TV
WNDU - NBC 16
WNDU - NBC 16.1
WNDU - 16.2
WSBT - CBS 22
WSBT - CBS 22.1
WSBT - FOX 22.2
WBND - ABC 57
WBND - ABC 57.1
For many emergencies, it may be safer to stay indoors. During a severe weather emergency, for example, buildings offer the best protection, especially basements. While indoors, do the following:
- Keep calm. Panic is your worst enemy in any emergency.
- Close all windows and doors and bring pets inside.
- Turn off all air-intake systems such as fans and air conditioners. Turn down the furnace thermostat. Close fireplace dampers.
- If your building has a basement, take a radio and go there.
- Do not go outside until you are told it is safe to go out or are told to evacuate. If you must go outdoors briefly to warn someone during a nuclear emergency, cover your nose and mouth with a cloth towel or scarf.
- Do not use the telephone or the internet unless it is absolutely necessary. It’s important to keep telephone lines open for emergency use.
- Stay out of your car or vehicle in a weather emergency. Seek shelter in the basement of a nearby building or a ditch until the weather emergency passes.
- Do not pick up children from schools or day care centers. School staff and child caregivers will keep children in school until it is safe to go out again. Listen for directions on TV or radio stations (see the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section above) about where and when they can be picked up. Visit your school’s website to learn more about their plan.
- Do not worry if you or family members are in a hospital or other special-care facility, as they also have emergency procedures.
Plan Ahead for Sheltering-In-Place
Have ready access to:
- A battery-operated radio and flashlight plus extra batteries.
- A 10-day supply of prescriptions and medications.
- A three-day supply of non-perishable food and beverages for your household and pets.
Only Call 911 If You Are Experiencing an Emergency
If you have a general question or need advice during an event, email Cook Emergency at cook_emergency_equery@aep.com.
- Listen to the radio or TV (see the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section above) for instructions. They will give you evacuation routes and directions to open Public Reception Centers.
- Go directly to a Public Reception Center and register. Follow the broadcast evacuation route instructions to the nearest open Public Reception Center. Please register when you arrive so family and friends will know where you are. After you have registered, you may go to stay with friends or family who live outside the danger area. If you prefer, you will be assigned to a safe, nearby gathering place.
- Stay calm. You and others with you should have time to get ready to leave safely.
- Take only essential items. Pack as if you were going on a trip for only a few days.
- Do not take firearms, alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs.
- If you have filled out and sent the online Functional Needs Emergency Information and Registry, you will receive the necessary assistance. If you need help, listen to a local TV or radio station (see the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section above) and follow the instructions for the telephone number you can call.
- Have a plan for your pets. Public Reception Centers will only accept service animals. Make arrangements to stay with relatives, friends, or at a pet-friendly hotel outside of the area. Bring pet supplies with you. Animal Control will be at the Public Reception Centers to provide additional options and advice. For more information, go to ready.gov/pets and PetsWelcome.com.
- Turn off small appliances, lights and water faucets. However, leave your refrigerator and freezer on.
- Turn off all air-intake systems such as fans and air conditioning. Turn down the furnace thermostat. Close fireplace dampers.
- Close and lock all windows and doors. The evacuated area will be secured and you will not be allowed to return until it is safe.
- Check on neighbors. Make sure they know how to evacuate and that they have transportation.
IMPORTANT: Do not pick up your children from schools or child care centers. If necessary, they will be taken to shelters outside the danger zone. Listen for directions on TV or radio stations (see the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section above) about where and when they can be picked up. Do not worry if you or your family members are in a hospital or other special care facility, as they also have emergency procedures.
Know Your EPZ Zone
To find out which Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) your address is in, go to https://www.berriencounty.org/1990/DC-Cook---Know-Your-Zone for an interactive map.
This map shows where the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) is — a 10-mile radius around the Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman. Berrien County’s emergency warning system alerts people county-wide, including anyone living within the EPZ and those who do not.
Inside the EPZ are the Protective Action Areas. These areas will be identified by the numbers shown on the map. For example, the TV or radio station may say, “Protective Action Area 1 must evacuate,” or “Protective Action Area 2 must take shelter.” Know which Protective Action Area you live, work, or are boating in so you can respond promptly to instructions.
The four Public Reception Centers are listed below. If you are told to evacuate, listen to an area radio or TV station (see the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section above) to learn which centers are open.
- A COLOMA HIGH SCHOOL: 300 W. St. Joseph St., Coloma (Red Arrow Highway)
- B WATERVLIET HIGH SCHOOL: 450 E. Red Arrow Highway, Watervliet
- C BRANDYWINE HIGH SCHOOL: 1700 Bell Road, Niles (South of Niles & East of M-51)
- D NEW BUFFALO HIGH SCHOOL: 1112 E. Clay St., New Buffalo (South of U.S. 12)
- Basics: the printed Cook Nuclear Plant Emergency Information Calendar, cash, portable radio, flashlight, extra batteries, keys, tool kit, credit/debit cards, checkbook, wallet, purse, cell phone, and charger
- Bedding: blankets, pillows, sleeping bags
- Toiletries: soap, towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, sanitary supplies
- Special items: special-diet foods, baby formula and bottles, diapers, favorite toys or games
- Health supplies: medicines, glasses, dentures, hearing aids, first-aid kit, prescription information
- Identification: driver’s license, credit cards, important papers
- Pet supplies: food, water, medicines, leashes, tags
- Drive carefully. There is no need to speed. Follow directions of all sheriff, police, and traffic officers.
- Close all vehicle windows and vents. Shut off heating and air conditioning.
- Listen to the radio (see the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section above). Follow emergency instructions broadcast on your car or portable radio. You will be told when it is safe to return.
Radioactive iodine (radioiodine) is one of the products that could be released in the unlikely event of a serious nuclear power plant accident. Potassium iodide (KI) is a non-radioactive form of iodine that may be taken to reduce the amount of radioactive iodine absorbed by your body’s thyroid gland. KI offers protection only to the thyroid gland, and its use would be to supplement evacuation and in-place sheltering. Evacuation and in-place sheltering are the primary means of protection in a radiological emergency.
State and county officials will use the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to notify the public of the need to evacuate, to shelter in place, or to take KI. Free KI tablets are available to persons within 10 miles of the Cook Nuclear Plant through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
You must pick up your free KI tablets prior to an emergency situation at the plant. You will NOT be able to get KI from the pharmacy during a nuclear plant emergency.
Go to www.michigan.gov/ki for:
- Fact sheets about Potassium Iodide (KI) written in English, Spanish, and Arabic
- How to prepare liquid KI
- Answers to frequently asked questions about the KI program
- Where to get your KI voucher so you can pick up your supply at a participating pharmacy. Vouchers are also available at the pharmacies below:
- Meijer Pharmacy: 1920 Pipestone Road, Benton Harbor, MI
- Meijer Pharmacy: 5019 Red Arrow Highway, Stevensville, MI
- Meijer Pharmacy: 5150 S. Franklin St., Michigan City, IN
- Meijer Pharmacy: 1223 Phoenix St., South Haven, MI
If you already have KI tablets from this program, annually check the expiration date on the box. If it has expired, go to one of the pharmacies listed above to replace your KI with a new supply.
For More Information
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) runs the KI program.
PHONE: 517-335-8150 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
EMAIL: mdhhs-ki@michigan.gov
ONLINE: www.michigan.gov/ki
Emergency Calendar References
- Current Emergency Calendar
- Functional Needs Emergency Information and Registry
- KI Voucher
- Emergency Alert System Map
- Know Your Emergency Planning Zone
- Cook Nuclear Plant Emergency Information Card
- Emergency Planning Guide PDF
Contacts
Berrien County Emergency Management
Division of Berrien County Sheriff’s Office
919 Port Street
St. Joseph, Michigan 49085
(269) 983-7141 Ext. 7215
Cook Energy Information Center
One Cook Place
Bridgman, Michigan 49106
1-800-548-2555
cookinfo@aep.com
Website Resources
This portion of the Cook Nuclear Plant Emergency Plan outlines steps to take to protect our local food supply in the event of a nuclear emergency. Information in this section includes the following:
The State of Michigan will evaluate the seriousness of a nuclear accident. It will order actions to protect the public and the food supply.
- If you live within 10 miles of the Cook Nuclear Plant, your first warning may be an IPAWS Wireless Emergency Alert or a B-WARN! alert. If you receive an alert, tune to a radio or TV station (see the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section above).
- If you live farther than 10 miles from the plant, you will be notified by area radio and TV stations (see the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section above). The news report will let you know if you need to take protective action, or a Cooperative Extension Service official will contact you. Please follow the emergency instructions right away.
-
If you have questions about a real or potential emergency,
please contact the
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at 800-292-3939 during
business hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m.). After hours, call 517-373-0440.
Your Cooperative Extension Service agent can provide animal health and feeding guidelines.
What should you do if you are told to seek shelter?
During a nuclear emergency, it is very important to limit your outdoor activities as much as
possible. Please stay indoors and follow the instructions provided in radio and TV messages
(see the “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Area Radio and TV Stations” section above).
What should you do if you are ordered to evacuate your farm?
If you live within 10 miles of the Cook Nuclear Plant, you may be told to evacuate. You may be
permitted, with directions from the state and county, to re-enter the evacuated area temporarily
to tend to the needs of your farm. You will receive instructions on where to check in, what routes
to use, safety precautions, and decontamination procedures.
Your Cooperative Extension Service agent can provide animal health and feeding guidelines.
IMPORTANT: Do not delay when notified to evacuate. Instructions on how to safely return to care for livestock will be given when it is safe to do so.
During a nuclear emergency, dust-sized radioactive materials can fall onto fruits, vegetables, or
grains. This food could enter the food supply and be eaten by the public. For example: Cows
could eat grass covered with radioactive iodine-131. Traces of the iodine could be passed
through to the milk and then to people who drink it. Iodine-131 has the potential to concentrate
in the human thyroid gland where it could cause thyroid cancer.
Protecting the food supply during a nuclear emergency
Following a nuclear emergency, the public could be exposed to radioactive material in several
ways. At first, particles and gases released into the air could be ingested or inhaled directly.
Additional exposure could result from eating or drinking food or milk contaminated by traces of
radioactive material. Farmers, food processors, and distributors will be required to take steps to
protect the food supply. Every step will be taken to minimize or avoid contamination. Please
read this section of the Emergency Plan to learn how to protect the food supply in the event of a
nuclear emergency.
Samples will be collected to determine the extent of impacts
In the event of an accidental release of radioactive material, State of Michigan emergency
workers will determine the extent of any impact. Emergency workers will collect samples of air,
water, and soil to determine whether there is radioactive contamination, where it is located, and
the amount. Samples of milk, forage, crops, and processed foods also may be taken. Field data
and other factors will be used by the state to determine the best course of action to limit the
impact on the public and the food supply.
Samples may be taken from as far away as 50 miles from the plant site. State of Michigan
emergency workers will give farmers, food processors, and distributors outside of the 10-mile
radius of the Cook Nuclear Plant specific instructions on how to collect and test samples.
Samples are being taken now to give us a baseline
Radioactive materials occur naturally in the environment so Indiana Michigan Power and State
of Michigan emergency workers continually take samples of the air, water, milk, vegetation, and
animal life near the Cook Nuclear Plant. This gives them a “natural” baseline for comparison in
the event of a nuclear emergency.
Farmers, food processors, and distributors could face serious financial losses following a
nuclear emergency. Under federal law, you will be reimbursed for any of these losses. The
Price-Anderson Act, enacted by Congress in 1957, requires the operators of nuclear power
plants and certain other nuclear facilities to purchase nuclear liability insurance policies for the
protection of the public. As a result, no-fault insurance pools are in place to pay claims promptly
without lengthy court hearings. Claimants need only prove that the injury or property damage
resulted from the nuclear emergency. Commercial insurance policies exclude coverage for
nuclear emergencies because the Price-Anderson Act makes coverage unnecessary.
What you should do with food and products contaminated in a nuclear emergency
After an event, there may be additional guidance from government officials on food, fruits and vegetables, feed, and animal health.
- Crops in the field - Let your standing crops grow to maturity. The level of radiation exposure they may receive should not affect their growth. Most contaminants will be washed off in the rain. Or, over time, the crops will return to safe levels as they grow. If special harvesting procedures are required, your Cooperative Extension Service agent will give you instructions. Government officials may restrict the movement of crops and agricultural products and withhold them from the marketplace if they are suspected to be contaminated until they are assessed to be safe.
- Roots and tubers - Potatoes, carrots, and plants that mature under the ground are generally safe to eat. Make sure to thoroughly wash and peel these products to remove soil particles and contaminants.
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Fruits and vegetables in the field - Unprotected plants may have particles of radioactive contamination on their surfaces. Before
eating them, wash them thoroughly. Then brush, scrub, or peel the outer layers. Some leafy
vegetables may be eaten after you remove the outer layers.
If your crops do not need to be harvested immediately, leave them in the field or on the trees. They should be able to be harvested once your area is declared safe again.
You may lose some ripe fruits and vegetables to spoilage. Contamination levels in your area may be too high for field workers to harvest your crop in a timely manner. You will be reimbursed for crop losses. Government officials may restrict the movement of crops and agricultural products and withhold them from the marketplace if they are suspected to be contaminated until they are assessed to be safe. - Honey and apiary products - Following a nuclear emergency, State of Michigan emergency workers will need to take samples and analyze honey and beehives in the Protective Action Areas. Contact your Cooperative Extension Service agent for guidance.
- Farm products - If radioactive particles or material are present in large amounts, you may be advised not to use, eat, or sell garden produce or animal products until samples are taken and analyzed. State of Michigan emergency workers will conduct the sample tests and analysis. Please follow their orders to protect the public and your safety.
- Milk - Milk contaminated at low levels of iodine-131 may be converted to powdered milk or cheese. Then it will be stored until the iodine’s radioactivity diminishes to safe levels. It may also be used in animal feed.
- Wildlife and plants - After a nuclear emergency, wild game such as deer, rabbit, squirrel, pheasant, and partridge may eat food and water contaminated with radioactive particles. State of Michigan emergency workers may advise you not to eat wild game until it has been sampled and assessed to be safe. Wild edible plants, such as native herbs, mushrooms, dandelion greens, spearmint, peppermint, or wintergreen may also have particles of contamination on their surfaces. Before eating, be sure to wash, brush, scrub, or peel to minimize contamination.
How soon will the radioactivity reach safe levels?
The speed at which radioactivity diminishes depends on several things. Inert gases released
from a nuclear power plant lose their radioactivity within minutes. Wind or heavy rain tends to
remove radioactive material from plants very quickly. In some cases, however, a hard rain after
a nuclear emergency may splash contaminated soil onto plant surfaces. This will increase the
amount of radioactive material on low-standing plants.
What steps can be taken to restore contaminated soils?
There are several steps that can be taken to restore soils contaminated in a nuclear emergency.
One is not to use the soil for a period of time. In a worst-case situation, heavily contaminated
soil may need to be removed and sent to an approved radioactive waste disposal facility. Such
drastic action may not be possible for large fields, but may be used for small plots or areas such
as walkways near buildings where people come in close contact with it.
In less severe situations, fiber crops may be planted instead of fruits and vegetables. Deep
plowing may be used to keep the radioactive contaminants below the root zone until the
radioactivity decays to safe levels over time. Liming may also be used to limit the absorption of
specific radioactive elements by crops.
Farmers will receive guidance from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural
Resources Conservation Service on how to restore valuable soils to productive use.
What should food processors and distributors do in a nuclear emergency?
After a nuclear emergency, government officials may restrict the movement of contaminated
food products or withhold them from the marketplace. These products should not be released
until they are considered safe for consumption or a decision is made to dispose of them. State
of Michigan emergency workers will instruct you on how to safely handle and dispose of
contaminated food products.
The environmental damage caused by a nuclear reaction may be short-lived. Steps can be
taken to make a full recovery.
For more information, contact:
MSU-BERRIEN COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
269-927-5674
1737 Hillandale Road
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
www.canr.msu.edu/berrien/
If you have questions about a real or potential emergency, you may also contact:
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
800-292-3939
www.michigan.gov/mdard
How to protect your water supply in a nuclear emergency
Store as much water as you can for your livestock. Cover open wells, tanks, and other storage
containers. Close off the intakes from contaminated ponds, streams, or cisterns. In general,
water from wells and water heaters should be safe to use.
Radioactive contaminants deposited on the ground usually will travel very slowly into the soil. If
contaminants fall onto the surface of lakes and rivers, the radioactive materials may get into the
groundwater supplies. It takes just a few hours for streams and lakes to carry the contaminants
many miles.
How to protect your livestock or poultry in a nuclear emergency
The first priority is to protect dairy animals because radioactive materials can quickly enter the
food chain through milk and other dairy products. If sheltering is required, shelter your dairy
animals first.
Shelter livestock in covered barns or sheds unless the weather is extremely hot or other factors
make sheltering impossible. Provide your animals with stored feed such as hay, silage, and
bagged grain. Whenever possible, draw water for your animals from a well. Avoid using water
from ponds, rivers, and creeks. This will help to minimize the amount of radioactive material
ingested by your animals.
Poultry are more resistant to radioactive contamination than other farm animals. Keep them in
your enclosed facility and continue to give them stored feed and well water. If your poultry are
normally kept outdoors, bring them inside if possible.
IMPORTANT: Do not destroy any animals, crops, milk or feed supplies unless directed by authorities to do so.
DO NOT DESTROY YOUR ANIMALS
Destroy your animals only if you get orders from state or federal authorities. Do not slaughter
any animals except for immediate food needs. Generally, animals that are exposed to
radioactive contaminants and radioactive rainwater will survive. Many will be marketable and
safe for humans to eat. However, do not allow animals to graze in open fields unless the State
of Michigan, your Cooperative Extension Service agent, or another government official gives
you permission.
What you should do if feed is radioactively contaminated
Only in extreme emergencies may you feed your livestock contaminated grain or hay. If you
must use the contaminated feed, you may be able to reduce the level of contamination. For
example, if the feed is stored outside, the contamination may be greater at or near the surface
of the feed pile. You may be able to reduce the contamination level significantly by removing the
top portion. Government officials may restrict the movement of feed products and withhold them from the marketplace if they are suspected of being contaminated until they are assessed as
safe.
Do not dispose of contaminated feed or hay unless spoilage has made it inedible. Generally,
contaminated products may be salvageable after adequate time passes and they are properly
processed. Please keep contaminated feed supplies separate from other feed so the
contamination does not spread. Your Cooperative Extension Service agent can provide you with
specific information.
