Public Meeting on County-Wide Oyster Creek Emergency Exercise Slated for Friday

Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are holding a public meeting on Friday, June 15 at 1 p.m. to discuss the results of the county's Oyster Creek Generating Station’s Nuclear Exercise.

The meeting, which will be held at the Ocean County Office of Emergency Management located at the Ocean County Airport on Route 530 in Berkeley Township, will focus on the Oyster Creek exercise scheduled for Tuesday, June 12.

The annual exercise tests the response of nuclear plant workers as well as municipal, county and state agencies through a simulated emergency at Oyster Creek, a news release from the county said.

“The Ocean County Office of Emergency Management participates annually in drills that focus on the nuclear power plant,” said Undersherriff William Sommeling, deputy coordinator for emergency management. “This year’s exercise will be monitored and reviewed by FEMA. The federal agency will look at the actions taken by the participants and will review it for both efficiencies and any deficiencies that they may find.” 

The Ocean County Office of Emergency Management along with 17 municipal Offices of Emergency Management will test their ability to respond to an emergency event at Oyster Creek, Sommeling said. Each of the 17 municipal offices is located within the 10-mile radius of the Forked River nuclear plant.

Oyster Creek spokesperson Suzanne D’Ambrosio pointed out that although the nuclear plant will provide support, it is not involved in this exercise. The exercise solely engages emergency management on the county and municipal levels.

In December, conducted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.