County scores passing grade on nuke drill
By MARY ANN GREIERLISBON - Federal evaluators found no problem with the ability of Columbiana County emergency responders to protect the health and welfare of area residents if a radiation exposure event occurred.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency tested the emergency workers' response to a simulated problem at the Beaver Valley Power Station during an out-of-sequence drill this week. The testing is required every 18 to 24 months due to the county's location within the 10-mile radius of the nuclear power plant.
"Overall they did exceptionally well. They did everything they needed to do in a timely manner," said Gary Naskrent, Technological Hazards Program Specialist in the National Preparedness Division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Naskrent reported on the preliminary findings of the drill, noting the county selected 21 criteria out of 33 possible to be tested, with the drill participants meeting 19 of the criteria. He noted there were no deficiencies, which means none of the actions would have caused harm to residents, although there were a couple of areas that will require corrective action during the next drill in two years.
During the 2006 drill, evaluators found two areas needing corrective action, one dealing with some conflicting information in a news release and the other dealing with the proper use of a survey meter used to test evacuees for radiation contamination.
This time around, the fire departments successfully demonstrated the proper use of the equipment, but there was still a problem with a news release having conflicting information by telling people in certain areas to stay inside their homes and to take potassium iodide pills, which lessen the effects of radiation. Only the residents who were evacuated were to be instructed to take the pills. There was also some confusion when residents who were told to shelter in place were also told to go to their designated pickup point in cases where transportation would be needed.
Naskrent said the areas needing corrective action will remain on the books for the drill in two years and they'll look at them again.
They also recorded two new areas requiring corrective action this time, with one correctly redemonstrated, meaning they won't have to take corrective action in two years since they've already corrected the situation. The other new issue will require more training and corrective action in the next drill.
For one issue, a briefing on the use of potassium iodide was given, but when evaluators asked emergency workers about its use, they couldn't answer some of the questions. They immediately did a retraining on the spot, then retested them, with the workers successfully answering their questions.
In the other case, there was trouble with some survey meters not being used correctly on emergency vehicles. Naskrent explained that the search for radiation on vehicles requires a slow movement with the meter within a certain proximity to the vehicle. More training will be required.
The report highlighted two strengths for the county.
At the Negley Fire Department site, he said the exposure coordinator gave an exceptional briefing to the emergency workers on the use of dosiemetry, which is a handheld piece of equipment carried by all emergency workers in the 10-mile radius used to detect their own level of contamination.
The other strength was the efficiency of the staff at the Jay Carter Emergency Operations Center, where personnel were praised for working as a team and representatives from the American Red Cross and the amateur radio operators provided strong human service and communication support.
Naskrent said that the 21 criteria for the county required evaluators to look at 97 different areas of concern which equated really to 1,100 areas for both the state and the county where something could have gone wrong. The state of Ohio tested 13 criteria with no deficiencies found and no areas needing corrective action.
"This is not an easy type of exercise to participate in," said Sean Zalesny, a radiological analyst supervisor with the Ohio Department of Public Safety Emergency Management Agency.
He said the fact that so many volunteers and emergency responders took part and cared so much about their performance should be reassuring to residents.
"I could not be more pleased," Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency Director Darren Dodson said.
He characterized the drill as "leaps and bounds better than two years ago." He said they'll continue to work on the areas identified for correction.
Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net
