2011 Limerick Generating Station Summary - by Tony P.

On Tuesday 15 November 2011 the Chester County Emergency Operation Center along with the Emergency Operation Centers in the fifteen municipalities located in the Emergency Preparedness Zone (EPZ) for the Limerick Generating Stations participated in the biennial radiological emergency preparedness exercise.  Approximately 230 staff and volunteers participated in this exercise.  The exercise is to make sure the county and municipalities are capable to protect the citizen in the EPZ if something were to happened at Limerick.  The exercise provides more to the citizens because of what the participants complete for the exercise is used in any emergency that happens in the area.   

Emergency Operations Center Staff Prepare for Limerick Exercise - By Tony P.

Every two years Chester County is evaluated on its ability to respond to an emergency at the Limerick Generating Station.  State and Federal evaluators descend upon the county and surrounding areas to evaluate Exelon, the owner/operator of the plant, and the emergency services’ plans, policies and procedures.  Tony Przychodzien, the County’s Radiological Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, provided a briefing to Emergency Operations Center (EOC) staff on the exercise.  Information included where to report, what time, and what the objectives of the exercise were.  The pre-briefing also provided a great opportunity for everyone to review their roles and responsibilities in the plan and in the EOC.

The EOC is a central facility responsible for coordinating response and recovery efforts for local governments within the county, state, and federal authorities.  The EOC is fully equipped with dedicated communication, computer and satellite links to assist the EOC staff in an emergency situation.  All activities in the EOC are done in close cooperation with the County Commissioners, Municipal Emergency Management Agencies, and emergency responder organizations throughout the county.

For more information on the Limerick Generating Station, click here. 

For a copy of the Emergency Planning pamphlet that is distributed annually to the areas surrounding Limerick, click here.

Minquas EMS and Brandywine Hospital complete MS-1 Drill - By Tony P.

Imagine this situation for a moment:

You are dispatched to a call reporting an injured and radiological contaminated person. 

Do you know what to do as an EMS provider?

Imagine you are at the Hospital receiving this patient and the EMS crew notifies you they are bringing a contaminated patient to your Emergency Department.  Would you know what to do or who to call?

This is the situation that Minquas EMS and Brandywine Hospital experienced on October 28^th as part of a federally-evaluated exercise.

MS-1 refers to the Medical Services Hospital Program under the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program.  There are 16 MS-1 hospitals in the Commonwealth.  Brandywine Hospital is designated as the County’s MS-1 hospital for incidents at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station.  Every two years they are federally evaluated to ensure they can receive a patient, decontaminate the patient and treat the patient based on their plan.

All participants did a great job in showing that we are prepared for patients that are affected by a radiological accident.

Great job Brandywine Hospital and Minquas EMS!