Orange County Biennial North Anna Drill On May 4 th and 5 th , Orange County staff worked with regional, state, and federal partners to complete the biennial North Anna Power Plant drill designed to test local, regional, and state responses to the nuclear facility during an emergency. Caroline, Hanover, Louisa, Orange, and Spotsylvania Counties along with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), Virginia Agricultural Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were tested on their individual and regional responses to a simulated emergency at the Dominion Energy facility. The Orange County response was coordinated by Assistant Fire & EMS Chief Roger Wilson and Chief Nathan Mort. Participants included staff from Fire & EMS, the Sheriff ’ s Office, Board of Supervisors, Communications Department, Extension Office, Department of Social Services, and the Orange County Public Schools. VDEM and FEMA personnel were present to create various real - time and realistic scenarios to which staff had to react according to their specific response plans while coordinating internally and externally with multiple jurisdictions and agencies. Simulated scenarios included everything from radiological disbursement and contamination to agricultural and livestock impacts, school closures and dismissals, and road blockages. Overall, Orange County received high marks without any infractions by FEMA. Citizens are reminded to be familiar with their home and workplace ’ s proximity to the North Anna Power Plant. Additional information regarding Dominion Energy ’ s North Anna Safety and Preparedness Guide, Evacuation Zones, Routes, and Assembly Centers can be found at https://www.dominionenergy.com/ projects - and - facilities/nuclear - facilities/north - anna - power - station. Citizens are encouraged to subscribe to the County ’ s official means of communications through the website at orangecountyva.gov, follow the County ’ s Facebook , and use a battery - operated radio to tune into local radio stations including station WJMA 103.1 or WFLS 93.3 during emergencies. For more information about Orange County ’ s Radiological Emergency Response Plan, please contact Assistant Chief Roger Wilson at rwilson@orangecountyva.gov.
Photos from left to right: Nathan Mort, Chief of Fire & EMS Jason Smith, OCSO Captain Billie Beveridge, Fire & EMS Lieutenant and Donnie Letner, Firefighter & EMT with FEMA Official OCVA Team
Page 17 | June, 2021
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