McGuire

There are several ways you could be notified of a problem at McGuire Nuclear Station:

To alert people outdoors, county officials may sound sirens around the station. If you hear a siren, turn on your radio or television immediately. Tune to a local station that will carry an emergency information message. These stations will give you information and tell you what to do. HEARING A SIREN DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD EVACUATE.

To alert people indoors, radio and television stations will carry emergency information messages. Local fire, police and emergency officials may patrol affected areas within the EPZ broadcasting information via loudspeakers and/or go door to door to ensure residents are award of the situation. Follow their instructions. Stay tuned.

Boaters also would be alerted. Officials will use any means necessary (e.g., boats, loudspeakers, etc.) to alert those on waterways and in recreational areas.

Upon hearing a siren or emergency message, we also encourage people living in the 10-mile emergency planning zones to check with their neighbors to ensure they are aware of the situations – especially neighbors who may have special needs.

In case of a problem, you will be provided specific instructions based on your location. Follow the instructions given on the radio or television. 

Schools in the area around McGuire Nuclear Station have emergency plans for school children.

In an emergency, school officials would be contacted by county emergency management officials.

If an evacuation were ordered, all children attending school inside the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) would be relocated to a designated pick-up facility for their school. This may be different from the reception center/shelters listed for the student’s home.

It is important for parents to know in what zones their children's schools are located. To find out, locate the correct zone on the EPZ map (pdf, 190 KB) for your children's schools. Parents should familiarize themselves with the relocation schools/centers (pdf, 53 KB) for their children's schools.

Your children will be cared for at the facility by school and county officials until you arrive.  

It is important for parents to know in what zones their children's schools are located. To find out, locate the correct zone on the EPZ map (pdf, 190 KB) for your children's schools. Parents should familiarize themselves with the relocation schools/pick-up facilities (pdf, 53 KB) for their children's schools.

If your children are ever left home alone, make sure they know what to do in an emergency. Children should know their zone and be familiar with your family’s emergency plan. 

Potassium iodide, also known as KI, is a non-prescription drug that may reduce or prevent your thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine. It does not block the absorption of any other radioactive material. KI is one protective action that might be recommended during a nuclear emergency. 

KI is available to Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) residents at no cost through county health departments.KI should be picked up before an emergency by those living or working in the 10-mile EPZ. KI is most effective if taken before exposure; but it is important to note that, it should only be taken at the direction of public health officials.

For more information on KI, contact your county health department:

Mecklenburg	3-1-1
Catawba	828.695.5800
Gaston	704.853.5205
Iredell	704.878.5300
Lincoln	704.735.3001

For more online KI information, visit https://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/phpr/ki/ki.html.

Primary Emergency Alert Stations

These radio stations will participate in EAS announcements in the event of an emergency. If you hear several three-minute long siren blasts, tune to one of the following stations for information:

• FM 107.9 WLNK Charlotte 
• FM 106.5 WEND Salisbury 
• NOAA Weather Radio - All Hazards