State and local emergency officials will participate in an exercise to test emergency response plans for the Harris Nuclear Plant in Wake County, NC, on April 29, 2025. Representatives from Duke Energy will also be involved.
This exercise will center on a 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone surrounding the Harris Nuclear Plant and will evaluate command, control, communications, and response functions of the state, county, and utility partners. These exercises are mandated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) every two years to examine response measures within a 10-mile radius of the plant. Additionally, once every eight years, these agencies require a broader examination that includes a 50-mile radius, accounting for effects on agriculture, food supply, and plans for repatriation after evacuation.
A public meeting discussing the outcomes of the exercise will be conducted by FEMA evaluators on May 1, 2025, at 11 a.m. The meeting will take place at the New Hill Community Center, located at 3101 New Hill-Holleman Rd, New Hill, NC 27562.
