Local, state officials to participate in nuclear incident exercise

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct a test of local and state radiological emergency preparedness and response plans in support of the Callaway Energy Center on Sept. 24 that includes officials from Callaway, Gasconade, Osage and Montgomery counties.

According to a FEMA press release, the exercise is a required test every two years involving the activation of emergency facilities by participating local and state officials - a process which will be monitored by the FEMA Region VII Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program. The on-site performance at the Callaway Energy Center will be evaluated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

"The exercise is conducted every two years just to make sure all of the responding agencies and elected officials would be able to respond in a coordinated fashion in case there's a problem at the nuclear plant," said Michael O'Connell with the Missouri Department of Public Safety. "This is considered a drill to make sure everything is in place and set up in case there were a real event."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.