The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is partnering with the State of Minnesota, State of Wisconsin, and
various county and city agencies to participate in a simulated emergency at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant today and tomorrow.
The exercise will test the capabilities of federal, state, and local agencies in the event of an incident at the plant.
Residents in areas near the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant should not be alarmed by emergency responders carrying out their duties during the exercise.
A variety of field activities will take place near the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant in Dakota and Goodhue Counties of Minnesota and Pierce County in Wisconsin, with participating agencies including the following:
- Xcel Energy, operator of the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant
- Minnesota departments of:
- Agriculture
- Office of Emergency Medical Services
- Health
- Human Services
- Military Affairs
- Natural Resources
- State Patrol
- Transportation
- Pollution Control
- Education
- Corrections
- Dakota, Goodhue, and Pierce Counties
- City of Red Wing
- Prairie Island Indian Community
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- FEMA Region V
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Volunteer agencies
In the unlikely event of a nuclear generating plant incident, emergency responders, state officials, and plant operators will work together for an efficient and effective response.
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security will be evaluating the respondents and participating responders during the exercise.
[Click the soundbite to listen to the report.]