ML17349A421

Provides Preliminary Rept on Status of Radiological Emergency Preparedness Capabilities in 10-mile EPZ Surrounding Plant in Aftermath of Hurricane Andrew

ML17349A421
Person / Time
Site:	Turkey Point
Issue date:	10/16/1992
From:	Gordon Peterson Federal Emergency Management Agency
To:	Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
References
NUDOCS 9210230177
Download: ML17349A421 (7)

Text

Federal Emergency Management

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~ 0 Washington, D.C. 20472 OCT18 ]992 Mr. Dames M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Nashington, D.C. 20555

Dear Mr. Taylor:

This is to provide a preliminary report on the status of the radiological emergency preparedness capabi1ities in the 10-mile Emergency Planninj'Zone (EPZ) surrounding the Turkey Point Nuclear power Plant in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. As you know, the hurricane made landfall in the area of the plant on August 24, 1992. Xn accordance with routine operating procedures, the plant was shut down in anticipation of landfall. The devastating effects of that hurricane 'are widely known and, of course, extend well beyond the boundaries of the EPZ.

As you know, NRC initially requested a reconfirmation of the capabilitios for the adecpxacy of offsite emergency preparedness affected offsite jurisdictions on September 29, 1992. Due to the magnitude of the destruction, PENA could not confirm tho offsita emergency preparedness capabilities without an assessment of the impact of the hurricane on the infrastructure in the 10-mile EPE.

Due to circumstances surrounding the recplest for the assessment, the Florida Power and. Light Company (FPL) voluntarily agreed not to continue with the power ascension begun on September 29, 1992, and to remain shut down until FKMA's offsite assessment could be completed.

1n an October 2p 1992t conference...call -with you and senior management of the Florida Power and Light Company, within with I committed to assessment of the provide the NRC, about two weeks, an emergency preparedness capabilities of the affected offsite jurisdictions in the 10-mile EPZ in the aftermath of the hurricane.

As you know, during the past two weeks, FEMA's assessment team has worked closely with officials of the State of Florida, Dade and Monroe Counties, HRC and. the FPL Group. However, FEMA's ability to deliver a fully developed report of remaining/restored offsite capabilities depends in part on the availability of these and other local officials to participate in interviews, assessment activities and to make certain interim planning decisions.

As you can understand, these offiCials continue to be fully occupied with the basic needs of their. citizens in the wake of such widespread. destruction and with the restoration of basic services to affected communities. Appropriately, they are giving top priority to these recovery duties. Xndeed, due to the efforts of everyone involved with the restoration process, improvements in the 9210230177 "9210i 6 PDR ADOCK 05000250 F PDR Qi

infrastructure are occurring on a continuing basis. Although officials have been most cooperative with FE%'s efforts to reassess offsite capabilities, their time for discussion of some of these matters has had some limitations. 'As a result, we have been unable to complete our assessment and finalize the full report on the current status of offsite preparedness as discussed below.

Since I am unable to proceed with a statement concerning reasonable assurance at this time, I am providing below a summary discussion of three open issues which, impact on our assessment.

if unresolved, would have a negative Transportation Dependent Populations Descriptkon of the Area of Concern Xt is evident. that there was a considerable loss of'ersonal vehicles caused by Hurricane Andrew. Those residents suffering vehicle loss may have difficulty evacuating the EPZ after being notified. Xn addition, there are less than 2,000 persons still sheltered in tent cities managed by the military where the availability of personal vehicles is unknown.

Normally, transportation assistance is provided hy the Dade Schoo1 Board in the form of school buses and drivers. Because of Hurricane Andrew, the school board is temporarily short 75 drivers. As a short term solution, the Metro-Dade Transit Authority (MDTA) has the capabili+ to compensate for this shortage: MDTA has 550 45-passenger buses and drivers available, and 11 19-passenger mini-buses and drivers, for a total passenger capacity of 24>959. The County is currently assessing the adequacy of that capacity to allow for the provision of 75 extra buses. In the longer term, the Dade School Board is hiring additional drivers to raplace the shortage.

2 ~ Rocommondod Compensatory Measures for Transportation Dependent Fopulations Discussions between FEMA, the state of Floiida, a'nd Dade County have yielded the fo11owing recommended solutions to alleviate the evacuation concern caused by the loss of personal vehicles.

(1) Increase the number of evacuee pick-up points by Metro-Dade Transit and modify EBS pre-scripted messages to include those new pick-up points.

(2) Establish additional new pick-up points at each tent city location.

(3) Document arrangements for the increase in evacuee transportation in a MOU between Dade OEM and Metro-Dade Transit.

(4) Provide REP training to new school bus drivers who could be called on to assist with an evacuation.

3- Status of Compensatory measures for transportation Dependent Populations FPL confirmed in writing to the Metro-Dade Office of Emergency Management on October 14, 1992, its commitment to provide REP training to schoo1 bus drivers who could be called upon to assist with an evacuation in the event of an emergency at the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant.

However, until such time as Dade County provides FEMA with plans and/or procedures covering the recommended compensatory measures {e.g., pick-up points, capacity and pre-scripted messages), FEMA is unable to complete its assessment.

Public Alort and Notification Description of the Area of Concern As part of the assessment effort FEME conducted a spot check of the siren system in the EPZ. Xnitially 8 of the 38 outdoor sirens were tested. Of those 8, one siren had a failed rotor control. Therefore, 11 more outdoor sirens were tested,, for a total sample size of 19, or 504 of the'utdoor sirens; and, all three indoor'ini-sirens were tested. The 11 outdoor sirens worked satisfactorily, for a success rate of 18 out of 19 outdoor sirens tested (94.74). However, two of the three mini-sirens failed. All of the failures were promptly diagnosed and repaired by PPL; and; FPL followed these spot checks with an'additional patrol of the entire 41-siren system to ensure operability. Therefore, FEHA does not consider operability of the siren system to be an issue.

Additional checks were made by FEMA and PPL of secondary notification capability to special facilities and persons with special needs (PSN) by commercial telephone. FERA attempted to call 42 special facilities; 14 calls were successfully completed, 13 yielded no answer after 10 rings, 7 yielded constant busy signals, 6 were intercepted by a phone company message that the call could not be completed, and 2 yielded only static on the line. FPL attempted to call 134 pSNs; only 6 calls were successfully completed. Some of the special facilities may have been closed or their phones unattended, and many of the PSNs may have been relocated since the hurricane.'onetheless, the assessment points to a need for reassessment of the special needs population and for

alternative PSNs.

means of notifications to special facilities and Due to extensive electric power disruption, it must be assumed that a number of EPZ residents do not have access to the Zas messages which provide specific instructions relative to the emergency. There is also good reason to believe that most of those residents are living in structures which are or will be condemned and that these structures are spread throughout the EPZ with no identifiable concentrations. Also, as a result of Hurricane Andrew there are residents living in Life Support Centers (Tent Cities) who may not have access to radio or television.

g. Recommended Compensatory Measures for Public Mart, cN4 Notification Discussions between PXÃA, the State of Florida, and Dade County have yielded the following recommended solutions to alleviate the concern for public alert and notification (1) Verify the status of special needs facilities and populations.

{2) Until the status of condemned structures and the number of persons living in them can be determined, the oounty.

should employ route alerting using patrol cars equipped with public address systems to inform residents of protective actions. Zn addition, the public address capability which is part of the existing siren system should be used to inform residents of the meaning of siren soundings and appropriate protective actions.

Messages for use in this system should be drafted by Dade County OEM and FPZ .

(3) Each patrol car engaged in route alerting should be followed by a Retro-Dale Transit bus to pick up transportation dependent evacuees who cannot be advised of regular pick-up points. Transportation arrangements are subject to the development of a memorandum from Dade County OEH to the Metro-Dade Police indicating the need for the Police Department to identify additional alerting routes and accordingly allocate resources for these routes.

(4) The residents that are living in Life Support Centers or are not capable of viewing/listening to television/radio should be notified of an emergency at Turkey Point, through route alerting and the use of the public address mode on the outdoor learning system (sirens) .

status Notification o f compensatory Measuros for Public Alert and The following compensatory measures have boen comp1etad or are underway:

PPL pxovided mays to FEMA on October 12, 3.992, indicating the coverage of the siren system using the public address mode. These maps indicate that the voice coverage of the public address system on the sirens could adequately cover the major devastation az'eas and the Life Support Centers located within the EPZ, yending verification of audibility of the system. Audibility will be checked in conjunction with the full cycle test of the system in November 1992.

on October 12, 1992 FPL installed outdoor warning signs at the Red Cxoss Service Centers wi.thin the EPZ. Outdoor warning signs were also installed at the entrance(s) to the Life Support Centers (Tent, Cities) on October 12, 1992'3)

FPL has developed a handout to be given to the residents of the Life Support Centers (Tent Cities) advising them of the actions they would need to take in the event of an emergency at Turkey Point. On October 14, 1992, FPL obtained comments on the handout fram the Dade County office of Emergency Management and the. State of Florida officials. The handout was printed in both Spanish and English. FPL distributed the handout an October 16, 1992.

{4) FPL has developed a flyex that was delivered vi.a U.S.

Nail to all residents of the EPZ. This flyer provides planning information and a telephone number for special-need registry. On October 14, 1992 FPL obtained comments on the flyer from the Dade County Office of Emergency Management and the State of Florida officials. The flyer was printed in bath English .and Spanish.. The flyer was .

distributed on October 16, 1992-On October 12, 1992, FPX provided the 1991-92 Saf ety Planning Information (Public Information Brochures) to the FENA trailor sites located within the EPZ. Those brochures were delivered ta security or the manager of the trailer complexes to ensure that, residents living in the trailers are informed of what to do in the event of a radiological emergency at Turkey Point.

Nith Dade County approval, FPL is scheduled to distribute the pew 1992-93 Turkey Point Safety Planning Brochures in Novembex 1992 ta all residents living in the ZPZ.

(7) Pxoceduzes fo>> activating the outdoor warning sirens in the public address mode are incorporated into existing procedures for siren activation.

However, until such time as Dade County p>>ovides FZMA with I and/or procedures covering the public address messages to be used, the recommended xoute alerting, and the sta tus of the special needs facilities and population, FEMA is unable to complete its assessment.

Lncrease in Transient. Population Qeseriptiob of the kxea of concern The influx of construction workers into south Dade County to perform the necessary reconstruction work has created a population which has not been exposed to the usual REp public education programs. This new population does not increase the evacuation load, since it is estimated that a substantial number of residents have left the south Dade County area temporarily. This new population is also not transit dependent as evidenced by theix immigration to the area in pexsonal vehic1es. There is concern, however, that, this population is vulnerable since they are not familiar with the meaning of the siren sounding.

2. Compensating Measures fox Xncrease in Transient Populist ion Discussions between FED, the State of Florida, and Dade County have yielded a recommendation that warning signs be installed at all major entrances to the EPZ to alleviate the concern for the increase in transient population.

(1) state approval was required for installation of signs

'long State-controlled right of ways.

(2) Dade County consultation and approval was z.'ecpxired to determine the number and locations of additional signs to he posted .at majox non-State-controlled intersections.

3. Status of Compensatory Measures for Increase in Transidnt Population FpL has insta11ed outdoor warning signs at all of the major ent points into the EPZ (exits to the turnpike and major arteries xn a th e EPZ) based on the following approvals:

1) Florida Turnpike DOT approved the installation of 8 signs located at 8 turnpike exits and on the right of way along 3 non-turnpike state routes. FPL installed the sign posts and the signs on October 14 and 15, 1992.

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2) Da e Coun y location and supervised t llation of outdoor warning signs along

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controlled arteries. The signs vere installed on October

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3) Rith the approval of Dade County officials, FPL installed 4 outdoor warning signs at the Bayfront Park boat ramp on 4 Dade County has stipulated, and FPL has agreed hy memo as oZ october l6, 3.992, that highway signs in Spanish must also he posted. FPL is to produce and install these signs ~

in t accomplished, ll ti n of the Spanish-language compensatory measures for the 1n crease signs is r in transient population vill he considered complete.

Xn conclusion, X have direc ected m senior official an-scene to work e my with Dade County officials over the we en o procedural updates necessary to compensa e or e s can he concluded early next week based on Biscussxons it t officials. At that time,' vill he' able dto conclude the formal report and. assoc a e elfindi 44 CFR 350'f you have any cgiestions, please feel free to call me at 202-646-3692 Sine y>

nt c. Peterson Associate Director State and Local Programs and Support