If a radiological emergency occurs at the Callaway Nuclear Plant, one of AmerenUE’s top priorities will be to provide timely, accurate information to the news media and allow media representatives to meet with and ask questions of AmerenUE personnel.
How you will be notified
AmerenUE will provide initial notification of the emergency by fax or email to key media, including:
1. Mid-Missouri media
2. Wire services and the Missourinet
3. St. Louis media
We will also post news releases on the Ameren Web site (www.ameren.com).
How nuclear plant emergencies are classified
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has established four emergency action levels for nuclear power plants. Each classification requires a different response from county, state and power plant personnel. The classes, in order of severity, are:
1. Unusual Event. This means a minor event has occurred, or may occur, that could potentially reduce the overall level of safety. No releases of radioactive material requiring off-site response are expected. Appropriate public officials are notified, but no public action is required.
2. Alert. An alert is declared if events occur that could cause a further reduction in plant safety. Public officials and agencies are notified to be on standby, but no public action is required.
3. Site Emergency. This means there are actual or potential major failures of the plant’s safety-related equipment that could release radioactive material into the environment. However, any actual danger is confined to the plant site. Agencies activate their emergency operations centers and the public is kept informed through the news media.
4. General Emergency. This is the most severe classification, and means safety conditions have deteriorated to where a significant release of radioactive material beyond the plant boundaries is occurring or may occur. Appropriate public agencies begin the necessary steps to protect the public. Sirens and tone alert radios are activated to warn residents of the plant’s Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ). The public is given protective action instructions through the Emergency Alert System.