New Jersey Office of Emergency Management - Emergency Preparedness Around New Jersey's Nuclear Generating Stations

Emergency Preparedness Around New Jersey's Nuclear Generating Stations

New Jersey has nuclear generating stations in Salem County (the Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations) and in Ocean County (the Oyster Creek Generating Station).

The information on these pages will keep your family aware of what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency at one of these stations.

This information is part of a comprehensive safety program designed by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, PSEG Nuclear LLC (the operator of the Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations), and Exelon Nuclear (the operator of the Oyster Creek Generating Station).

All residents in the areas of New Jersey ’s nuclear generating stations should become familiar with this information and keep it handy, just as you would with medical, police, fire and emergency directions . By understanding this information, you are taking an important step for your family’s safety.

Print and Keep These Booklets:

Every resident within 10 miles of the Salem County and Ocean County nuclear generating plans will soon receive a copy of these “Community Emergency Planning Information” booklets, with detailed information on:

How you will know if there is an emergency at the nearby generating station
How to prepare for an emergency
What to do if you are directed to:

Shelter in Place
Evacuate
Take your Potassium Iodide (KI) Tablets

The booklets include maps of the Evacuation Routes, Bus Evacuation Routes, and Reception Centers that have been designated for the areas around each of New Jersey ’s nuclear generating stations.

You can download the booklets here, in PDF format:

Salem and Cumberland Counties : Community Emergency Planning Information for the Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations – coming soon
Ocean County : Community Emergency Planning Information for Oyster Creek
Generating Station [pdf - external web site]

Background Information:

Those unable to download the booklets can find similar information below for each nuclear generating station.

NJ NUCLEAR REVIEW TASK FORCE INTERIM REPORT - http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2011/11_0078.htm

FOR NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS IN THE AREAS AROUND THE SALEM AND HOPE CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATIONS (Salem and Cumberland Counties)

What to do during an emergency at a nuclear generating station
Kinds of emergencies at a nuclear generating station
Important Contact Numbers
Radiation in Perspective
Emergency Response Planning Areas
- Maps - Salem Hope Creek Emergency Response Planning Areas [.pdf - 1.61mb]
- Maps - Salem Hope Creek Reception Centers [.pdf - 1.42mb]
- Maps - Emergency Response Planning Areas Information [.pdf - 124k]
- Descriptions
Reception Centers
- Map to Reception Centers [.pdf - 1.47mb]
- Directions to Reception Centers
Evacuation Bus Routes for Persons Who Need Transportation - coming soon
School Information
Potassium Iodide - Link to NJ DOH Website Potassium Iodide Page

free PDF plugin needed to print and view PDFs

FOR NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS IN THE AREAS AROUND THE OYSTER CREEK GENERATING STATION (Ocean County)

What to do during an emergency at a nuclear generating station
view school evacuation locations [.pdf - 44k] within the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station EPZ by Emergency Response Planning Area (ERPA)
Kinds of emergencies at a nuclear generating station
Important Contact Numbers
Radiation in Perspective
Emergency Response Planning Areas
- Descriptions
- Oyster Creek 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone Map [.pdf - 1.49mb]
- 50-Mile Ingestion Pathway Zone Map [.pdf - 2.76mb]
Reception Centers
- Reception Centers Map [.pdf - 1.53mb]
- Directions to Reception Centers
Evacuation Bus Routes for Persons Who Need Transportation - coming soon
School Information [.pdf - 44k]
free PDF plugin needed to print and view PDFs

Further Information

Potassium Iodide (KI) Distribution

The State of New Jersey has made Potassium Iodide (KI) available to people within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) for the Oyster creek Generating Station and the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station. If you were unable to attend the public distribution of KI, they may be obtained from the Ocean County Department of Health or the Salem and Cumberland County Department of Health.

KI offers a degree of cancer protection only to the thyroid gland and only in cases when the release contains radioactive iodine. If taken before or shortly after radiological exposure, potassium iodide blocks the thyroid gland’s ability to absorb radioactive iodine. Remember that KI offers protection only to the thyroid gland and its use would be to supplement evacuation and in-place sheltering. Evacuation and in-place sheltering are the primary modes of protection in a radiological emergency. The use of KI by persons in the EPZ is entirely voluntary.

Caution: Potassium Iodide should not be used by people allergic to iodine. In the event of an allergic reaction, contact a physician immediately.

The area within the 10-mile EPZ at both sites is divided into smaller portions known as Emergency Response Planning Areas or ERPA’s. The ERPA’s have easily recognizable boundaries for identification when used with the Emergency Alert System (EAS). You may be instructed to take KI in addition to other Protective Actions via the Emergency Alert System. When necessary KI tablets will also be available for distribution to people evacuated to reception centers.


to obtain KI in New Jersey contact:

OCEAN COUNTY Ocean County Health Department 175 Sunset Avenue Toms River, NJ 08754 732-341-9700	SALEM/CUMBERLAND COUNTY Salem/Cumberland Health Department 98 Market Street Salem, New Jersey 08079-7510 856-935-7510

You may also visit the NJ Department of Health website for more information on Potassium Iodide distribution: www.state.nj.us/health/er/piodide.htm

Additional Information on New Jersey Nuclear Power Generating Stations