Emergency Response Plans
Level 3 - Nuclear accident

 

Annex: Nuclear Accident

Department: All Campus Departments

Departmental Emergency Contact: Campus Police

 

A. Purpose:
The purpose of this plan is to provide an effective and expedient plan to respond should an accident occur at the Catawba Nuclear Station. This plan will also entail evacuation or in-place sheltering of the student body, faculty and staff of Winthrop University.


B. Priorities:
Winthrop University’s campus is within the 10 mile emergency planning zone (EPZ) for the Catawba Nuclear Station. The university is located in zone C-2 of the 10 mile EPZ that includes the City of Rock Hill, between five and ten miles south of the Catawba Nuclear Station. It is also surrounded by heavily traveled roadways and bordered by a rail system that may support the transport of hazardous materials. Any natural or technological disaster could require the University to take protective measures such as in-place sheltering or evacuating and closing the campus until it’s safe to return.

C. Expectations for Employees and Students:
In the event of a nuclear accident Campus Police will be notified by the Emergency Operations Center on the extent of the emergency. Following this notification, Campus Police will notify faculty, staff, and students through the ALERTUS Emergency Notification System and the Instant Messaging System. The information provided will give direction on how to respond to the emergency. 

D. Communications:
Communications between Winthrop University and the York County Emergency Operations Center will be conducted via commercial telephone service.  Backup communications will be through utilization of the York County Comprehensive 800MHz Communications System.

Winthrop University will communicate with the campus community by the following means:

  1. ALERTUS Notification System
  2. Instant Messaging System
  3. E-mail – Mass messages to provide information
  4. Web – Specific messages to provide updates
  5. Face to Face – Direct contact by emergency responders
  6. Runner – Group contact by individuals moving from area to area
  7. Media – Communication via local radio and television stations

 

When the area is given the “all clear” signal for reentry/return, the information will be disseminated by local radio and television stations. The University authorities will confirm the information through the York County Emergency Operations Center. This information will then be disseminated via the listed means throughout the Winthrop campus community.


Name

Office Address & Phone Number

In Case of Emergency Contact

Campus Police

323-3333

 

York County Emergency Operations Center

329-7270

Cotton Howell

 

E. Responsibility and Control:

Emergency responders will have total control of the scene. If the situation dictates, the Incident Command System will be used as directed by the National Incident Management System.

The university will also assemble the Critical Incident Management Team to make university related decisions.

The Winthrop University Police Department will operate an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) located in the Campus Police Office. All activities will be coordinated with ESF-13 (Public Safety and Security) in the York County EOC. The Vice President of Student or his designee will be represented in the York County EOC and/or will be in continuous communications with the County EOC.

F. Emergency and Training Plans:

Notification

If a nuclear accident occurs at the Catawba Nuclear Plant, the initial alert notification will come from the York County Office of Emergency Management by activation of the all-hazards radio located in the Campus Office, by commercial telephone or by utilizing the 800 Mhz radio system. If the situation involves an emergency at the nuclear station, the initial notification will be provided at an event classification of ALERT or HIGHER. Subsequent notifications will be provided by the York County Office of Emergency Management or by the outdoor warning siren system and Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages on local radio and television stations. The sirens will cycle for three minutes and recycle again for a total of fifteen minutes. The sirens will sound for one (1) three minute cycle if they are being tested.  This siren system is tested audibly once every quarter throughout the year.

 

WUPD Notification Actions

When notification of imminent danger is received from either the York County Office of Emergency Management or the outdoor warning siren system, the University President or designee will be notified by Campus Police. The Chief of Campus Police or designee will verify the status of the emergency with the York County Office of Emergency Management, when practicable. The University President or designee may contact the York County Office of Emergency Management at anytime to obtain current conditions and situation reports and to help in the decision affecting Winthrop University.

 

Specific Notification Actions

If an emergency situation occurs at the Catawba Nuclear Station, specific action will be taken to insure the safety of the Winthrop University student body and staff. Specific notifications for each Emergency Classification Level (ECL) are as follows:

  1. Notification of Unusual Event – No action required. The University would not receive any notification from state or local officials of this ECL.
  2. Alert
    1. Winthrop University Police will be notified by York County Office of Emergency Management by telephone or all hazard radio. 
    2. Winthrop University Police will notify University Administration, department heads, on duty police officers, and the MacFeat Day Care Center (located on campus).
    3. Review plans and special operations procedures.
    4. Monitor all hazard radio and local radio and television stations.
    5. Maintain regular contact with York County Office of Emergency Management.
  3. Site Area Emergency
    1. Follow same notification procedure for an Alert.
    2. Notify Director of residence Life of the Situation.
    3. Consider closing the campus to allow commuter students to leave campus in their own vehicles.
    4. Begin securing essential off-duty personnel to be on standby.
    5. Begin collecting student files and supplies for evacuation assistance registration.
    6. Check availability of University buses.
  4. General Emergency
    1. Follow same notification procedures as for an Alert.
    2. Notify essential off-duty personnel to report to work. (determined by Department Heads)
    3. Request buses for transportation from York County Office of Emergency Management, if needed to supplement University transportation resources.
    4. Confirm, with York County Office of Emergency Management, that the shelter in Chester County is operational and can receive evacuees.
    5. Follow protective actions recommended by York County Office of Emergency Management.

 

In – Place Sheltering

Should state and local emergency officials determine that evacuation is not required nor advisable, they may direct the general population in certain zones to in-place shelter.  In-place sheltering is a temporary measure whereby individuals remain indoors for short-term protection.
In-place sheltering includes the following steps:

  1. Stay indoors until officials advise it’s safe to go out.
  2. Close all windows and exterior doors.
  3. Turn off outside ventilation system ( i.e., Air conditioning, heat, attic fans, etc.)
  1. Go to a basement or a down stairs room without windows of outside doors, if possible.
  1. Listen to University emergency information sources such as local radio, television or all hazards radio system.

 

Evacuation Procedures

A. University Closing

The University President or designee will determine whether or not to close the University and evacuate campus. It is anticipated that sufficient time will be provided in the alert and evacuation process to permit an orderly evacuation. Should an evacuation become necessary, the University will be closed and students, faculty and staff will be requested to leave the campus. Those individuals not able to return to their home for whatever reason, may request that the University help them in their evacuation. It is estimated that approximately 500 students may need transportation assistance to a safe area.

 

B. Evacuee Assembly

Those persons requiring evacuation transportation assistance should report to the Dinkins Student Center. The Dinkins Student Center will serve as the assembly point for Winthrop University evacuees. Residence Life staff will follow the fire drill procedure to evacuate residence halls. Upon arrival at Dinkins, University and local authorities will assign evacuees to temporary shelters. If an evacuation is required due to an event at the Catawba Nuclear station, evacuees will be transported to shelters located outside of York County. Lewisville High School is the designated shelter for the portion of the EPZ that Winthrop University is located in.

 

C. Evacuee Assistance Registration/Inquiry Process

In case of an evacuation, a registration and inquiry process must be conducted to maintain a record of Winthrop University students, faculty, and staff who have requested assistance with transportation.  to achieve this, students electing to be evacuated by the University will be processed through the registration and inquiry process at the Dinkins Student Center.  The Division of Student Life will be responsible for the Registration and Inquiry process located at Dinkins.

 

D. Transportation Assistance

In case of an event at the Catawba Nuclear station requiring an evacuation, York County Office of Emergency Management will coordinate the availability of buses to them once the county’s school children have been transported out of the 10 mile EPZ.  These buses will be used to supplement the buses and vans controlled by the University if they are available.

 

E. Evacuation Route

If an evacuation is occurring because of an event at the Catawba Nuclear Station the following route should be used:

Leaving the University, travel South on Cherry Road to Hwy. 901 (Heckle By-pass). Turn left and follow Hwy. 901 to I-77 South. Travel I-77 South to Hwy 9 ext. At the top of the exit turn left and shelter is on the left. (Lewisville High school)

 

F. Evacuation Information

When evacuees leave, all appliances and faucets should be turned off. All doors and windows should be closed and locked.

York County or neighboring counties will provide public reception centers managed by the American Red Cross and supported by the state and local Department of Social Services and other groups. An evacuation could last from a few hours to several days.  Considering the things that may be needed is important. Evacuees should take the following item:

  1. Two (2) changes of clothing
  2. Two (2) blankets or one (1) sleeping bag per person
  3. Important personal papers
  4. Toiletry items (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
  5. Personal medications
  6. Special foods or baby formula
  7. Pet food, carriers, and medication

Make arrangements for pets.  Accommodations for pets may be limited at reception centers. Pets may also be boarded at veterinarian offices or boarding facilities located outside York County.

 

G. On Campus Day Care Facility

MacFeat Laboratory School will follow the plan developed for the facility. MacFeat’s plan has been coordinated with local officials and the Winthrop University Police Department. York County Office of Emergency Management may choose to take precautionary measures and evacuate children in schools and daycares very early. This may take place before any protective actions are actually needed to be taken by the general University student population.

 

H. Coordination

For all emergency disaster situations, evacuation transportation, evacuation routes, shelter locations, etc. will be coordinated between the Winthrop University Police Department and the York County Office of Emergency Management.