Benton County Emergency Management, in coordination with Franklin County, the State of Washington and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), has developed plans to respond in the unlikely event of an accident at the DOE's Hanford Site. The plans are designed to help protect residents, especially those living within the Emergency Planning Zones (EPZ) around the Hanford sites.

In An Emergency...

How Will I Know?

If there is a radiological emergency at the Hanford site, nearby residents would be warned in a number of ways.

Sirens and Loudspeakers - People on or near the Columbia and Yakima Rivers will hear sirens sound continuously for three minutes or longer, followed by an audible message. These sirens are a signal for people using the rivers to evacuate and tune to the Emergency Alert System Radio Station KONA 105.3 FM or 610 AM for more information.

People using the Richland Off-Road Vehicle Park, the Horn Rapids Park and the Rattlesnake Mountain Shooting Facility would be notified by sirens sounding continuously for three minutes, followed by an audible message. They would be told to evacuate the area and tune their radios to KONA 105.3 FM or 610 AM.

Warnings by Boat - Personnel and boats provided by the U.S. Coast Guard and County Sheriffs' Department may also warn people to evacuate the river.

• • • • • If there has been no radiological release, boaters will be advised to return to their launch points.

        • If there has been a radiological release, boaters will be instructed to proceed to a monitoring station. Boaters would then receive further instructions from emergency officials.

Additional notification will be made by the Coast Guard broadcast of a "Notice to Mariners" over Marine Band Channel 16. The notice and emergency instruction will then be broadcast over Channel 22.

Tone Alert Radios - Residents within the EPZ in Benton County with special needs have Emergency Tone Alert Radios. These radios would be turned on automatically by a signal transmitted just before an EAS message is broadcast. If you have special needs and live within one of the Hanford EPZ and do not have a tone alert radio or have questions regarding their use, call us at 509-628-2600.

Broadcast Messages - People outside the EPZ would be notified an EAS message on commercial broadcasting radio and TV stations. People outside the EPZ should monitor KONA 105.3 FM or 610 AM.

What Do I Do?

Listen to emergency instructions carefully. Keep your radio tuned to radio station KONA 105.3 FM or 610 AM. If you live within the Emergency Planning Zones, you may be asked to take action during an emergency.

If Asked to Take Shelter:

• Remain in your home

• Close and lock all doors and windows

• Close anything that might bring air in from the outside, such as heating and cooling systems, fireplace dampers, range fans, bathroom vents or clothing dryers

• Use phones only for personal emergency

• Keep pets inside

• If you must go outside, cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth

• Listen to KONA 105.3 FM or 610 AM for further instructions

• Start planning for a possible evacuation

If Asked to Evacuate:

• Listen to the instructions carefully. Make sure your location is an area being evacuated before you follow the next steps

• Keep phones free for emergency use. Talk to your neighbors to make sure they have heard the emergency notification instructions

• Take emergency supplies with you. You should plan to be away from home for at least 72 hours

• Turn off stoves, space heaters and heating and air conditioning

• Leave food and water for pets you are not taking with you

• Lock all doors and windows

• Drive away from the nuclear facility

• Stay tuned to your radio, drive carefully and remain calm

• Register at the Assistance Center, so friends and relatives can locate you

  • • • • Southridge High School is the designated Benton County Assistance Center. They are located at 3520 Southridge Boulevard, Kennewick, WA 99338

        • The Assistance Center for Franklin County is Columbia Basin College. They are located at 2600 North 20th, Pasco, WA 99301

What are your evacuation routes? We have your answers here.