After two years and several attempts to get all 172 sirens go off without a hitch, Indian Point is now ready to alert the public to any problems at its Buchanan plant.
And the sirens”™ wail is augmented by the state”™s expanded emergency alert system, capable of nuclear messages or a heads-up about traffic jams.Â
The $30 million system, backed up by battery in case of power failure, will sound the alert to anyone within a 10-mile radius of the nuclear power plant, which is a major generator of electricity for New York City.
“The system was actually expanded by about 60 miles, so in some “It not only has the capability to sound the sirens but spontaneous messages can be sent over it if the need arises.” places it goes beyond the 10-mile limit,” said Jerry Nappi, plant owner Entergy spokesman.
While some are concerned about the danger to the environment Indian Point can unleash, Nappi says it”™s not possible for the “plant to blow up. The domes are engineered to contain the worst type of steam explosion we could ever have. If they were gone, there would be no radiation released to the public. They are there strictly to contain it should it ever happen.”
Nappi says he understands local frustration with the repeated failure of the system, “and rightly so. We faced major challenges and missed deadlines. We appreciated the public”™s patience, and now we have one of the most sophisticated alert systems in the world.”
The sirens at Indian Point are not the only way to receive an alert should something go amiss at the Buchanan location. “People can register their e-mail addresses at www.nyalert.gov and receive an e-mail alert any time there is a serious accident or a major storm coming through the area,” Nappi said.
Nappi, on his way home from the plant, was alerted via his Blackberry that there was a serious accident on Route 9 in Cortland. “I was able to avoid the whole area, thanks to the alert.” Nappi says the alert system can be for the entire state or a particular county. “In my case, I set it up to receive alerts about Dutchess and Westchester, because that”™s where I live and work. It”™s another aspect of the emergency alert system that”™s in place.”
The old system will go into “hibernation status” and remain there unless there is a need to resurrect it.
