Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/1066955
Every two years, federal regulators require Farley Nuclear Plant and Alabama Power employees to complete a drill showing readiness to respond to an emergency at the facility. The exercise is graded by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and Alabama Power passed the 2018 drill with flying colors. Alabama Power, Southern Nuclear, Georgia Power and other Southern Company employees took part in the Oct. 30 exercise, along with representatives of several federal and state agencies. Participating agencies included the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Alabama Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Alabama Department of Public Health, Georgia Emergency Management Agency, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Houston County EMA, Henry County EMA, Early County EMA and the NRC. Communications Specialist Linda Brannon, who is an organizer and controller of the drill, said both the NRC and FEMA gave high praise for the company's readiness. "The main takeaways from FEMA are everyone performed satisfactorily, there were no drill findings and all our objectives were met," Brannon said. NRC representatives were at the company's Joint Information Center (JIC) in Headland for the exercise. Brannon said the representatives had praise for the facility, especially for its space and layout. "One NRC officer said he's observed exercises all over this country, and this JIC is by far one of the best, if not the best, he's ever seen," Brannon said. "Some of the informal comments I heard from our evaluators throughout the drill alluded to the quality of our facility, our preparedness, our staff and our coordination amongst ourselves and with the other agencies." Alabama Power employees participate in the drill from two locations: the Corporate Media Center (CMC) at company headquarters in Birmingham and the JIC. Should an emergency occur at Plant Farley, communications would originate from the CMC until the JIC could be activated. Once the JIC opens, Alabama Power, Southern Nuclear and federal, state and county officials would disseminate information and hold joint news briefings in Headland. "It is critical that Public 25 Feds give Farley Employees conduct drill at the Joint Information Center in Dothan.