REP Program

About

Beaver Valley Power Station is a two unit nuclear power plant located in Shippingport, Pennsylvania about 5 miles east of West Virginia. The Beaver Valley plant is operated by FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company a subsidiary of FirstEnergy. The plant consists of two Westinghouse pressurized water reactors that started operation on July 2nd, 1976, for Unit One, and August 14th, 1987, for Unit Two. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has licensed Unit One to operate through January 29th, 2036 and Unit Two through May 27th, 2047.

The State of West Virginia and Hancock County coordinate emergency response plans and activities with Beaver Valley Power Station, the State of Ohio and Columbiana County, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Beaver County. State and county agencies have the primary responsibility for the safety of the general public outside of the nuclear facility. Most of these protective actions center around a 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone that includes parts of Hancock County, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Emergency Information

Notification of an Emergency 

If there is an emergency, you will be warned in one or more ways in the Hancock County and Weirton area and informed of the protective action(s) to take. Early warning sirens are located in many parts of our area. A steady, high-pitched tone of the siren for three minutes means that you should turn on the radio or television to a local station for information on what to do. Emergency information will be broadcast by the Emergency Alert System (EAS). In other areas, emergency vehicles with loud speakers will travel through the affected neighborhoods to provide emergency warning. If you hear a warning through this method, turn on your radio or TV station to listen to the EAS for instructions. Cable TV stations serving some of our areas will convey emergency "warnings" and/or general information to those households with cable TV service. If the message is only a "warning," you will be instructed to tune in to a local EAS station. The Emergency Alert System is activated by key officials in our area and is used to provide emergency information and directions over local radio and TV stations as listed below. WWVA Radio (1170 AM) and WTRF TV (Channel 7) are the lead stations for the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. The other stations repeat the messages on a sequential basis. EAS information is updated every 10-20 minutes. Stay tuned to your EAS Station until the emergency is over.

Possible Emergency Actions 

Sheltering-in-Place – This protective action may be the most proper response to an emergency. All persons and pets should stay indoors with all doors and windows closed while taking care to turn off all heating and cooling systems with intakes outside and closing fireplace dampers. Residents should continue to stay tuned to EAS Stations for further instructions. Residents should remain inside until officially notified that sheltering-in-place is no longer needed.

Evacuation – This is the primary protective measure to an emergency at Beaver Valley Power Station. All persons should gather needed personal items (clothing, medication, etc.) and proceed along designated evacuation routes to reception centers. Residents should continue to stay tuned to EAS Stations for further instructions.

Control of Food Sources – Care should be taken to avoid eating or drinking anything that could have been contaminated by radioactive sources. Animals should be kept inside and placed on stored feed and water, if possible.

Administration of Potassium Iodide (KI) – If the administration of potassium iodide is authorized residents may take a dose as directed. Those allergic to iodine, should not take potassium iodide. This medication assists in preventing the thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine. It is important, that residents should only take potassium iodide when and as directed. Evacuation should not be delayed to locate a supply of potassium iodide. The decision to take potassium iodide is voluntary and the responsibility of the individual residents affected. (See the WV Department of Health and Human Resources Policy on the Administration of KI)

Radiological Emergency Information for Farmers.pdf

Media Information.pdf

Contact

Rob Jelacic
Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program Manager
robert.l.jelacic@wv.gov
304-558-5380

Jammie Ferrell
Radiological Emergency Preparedness State Coordinator
jammie.l.ferrell@wv.gov
304-558-5380

Jason Lively
Radiological Emergency Preparedness County Coordinator
jason.k.lively@wv.gov
304-564-4040