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Shippingport Residents Closely Watch Situation In Japan

SHIPPINGPORT (KDKA) -- The nuclear situation in Japan has the attention of some people in Beaver County who live next to the Beaver Valley Nuclear Generating Station, our area's only nuclear power plant.

"It makes me think about it, but I also think because I worked down there and just knowing and just reading different things, I think it's a safe plant," said Charlotte Spece of Shippingport.

"I think we are much more concerned right now," said Shippingport's Emergency Operations Director Pat Lampe. She says the borough of more than 200 residents is prepared.

Every two years the borough and county have a drill to practice what they'd do if there were a nuclear emergency, Lampe says.

There are also sirens, more than 100 of them across the county, that would sound if there were actual trouble. Lampe says that siren would alert people to turn on their TVs to get important information.

She says if evacuations were necessary, firefighters would go street by street and use a loud speaker to give people instructions.

Potassium Iodide pills are also available for people in the area in the event of a radiation release. However, Lampe says no one should take the pills unless directed to do so.

RELATED LINKS

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More Reports By David Highfield
Shippingport Borough
Beaver County Emergency Services

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