The state has a comprehensive plan to evacuate southeastern Connecticut should a terrorist attack or an accident result in a radiation leak from the Millstone Power Station.
The plan, detailed in a report that takes up two large binders, covers everything from the medical response needed to the number of buses required to evacuate local schools.
In Groton, for example, some bus drivers are regularly tested to see if they know the best route out of town to Norwich.
“We’re very confident of our plan,” John Wiltse, director of the state’s Office of Emergency Management, told the Norwich Bulletin.
Thousands of details in the report have been ironed out over 20 years, including the communication each town would have with Millstone to determine if a mass evacuation would be necessary.
The Connecticut Office of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have conducted annual drills in Waterford and the surrounding towns of Groton, East Lyme, Ledyard, New London and Montville.
The drills test each town’s ability to handle a variety of emergencies at the nuclear power plant complex, from a minor security breach to a full meltdown.
In an evacuation, food, shelter and water would be provided by towns bordering Millstone.
Wiltse said there has never been any specific threat against Millstone and any future threat would be “extremely remote.” Millstone spokesman Peter Hyde would not speculate on the threat of a terrorist attack on any part of the plant.
“All I can say is that security is heightened and we are constantly looking at ways to improve it,” Hyde said.
Gov. John G. Rowland recently deployed National Guard troops to Millstone and the Connecticut Yankee nuclear plant in Haddam, which is being decommissioned.
–Associated Press