Residents living in the vicinity of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station should not be alarmed when they hear sirens tomorrow (Wednesday 9 November) as the City of Cape Town will participate in the National Nuclear Regulator’s (NNR) nuclear safety regulatory emergency exercise. Sirens will sound during the course of the day.
According to a statement, the purpose of the exercise is to test the effectiveness of the Radiological Release Hazard Disaster Risk Management Plan. During the exercise, the NNR will evaluate and assess the integration and response arrangements of the various role-players to a simulated emergency scenario.
Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith, says the exercise is planned to ensure that public safety arrangements are in place in the case of a nuclear emergency and that residents are not endangered.
“It will include the relevant role players from, among others, the Western Cape government, national government and Eskom. The scenario will examine the different stages of emergency, including evacuation plans, mass care centres, transport arrangements, decontamination, and the distribution of potassium iodate tablets.”
This could also include potential road closures as the NNR requires that a roadblock be held on one of the following roads:
• R27 West Coast and Silverstream roads
• R27 West Coast and M14 Melkbosstrand roads
• R304 and Philadelphia Road
• N7 and Melkbosstrand Road
The NNR will only reveal the exact location and time that the exercise gets under way on the morning of the exercise.
“The City of Cape Town apologises for any inconvenience caused and appeals to the public to please comply with any requests from emergency services staff on the day. Preparedness exercises like these are an important part of ensuring that the City is able to deal with a nuclear incident.”
