Previously we discussed many facts and statistics about Indian Point. The following is even more crucial information about emergency evacuation plans...or the lackthereof.
Logic would dictate that our local governments have installed an evacuation plan.
• Since the accident at Three-Mile Island, the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) requires evacuation plans for all nuclear facilities.
• The evacuation zone is a ten mile radius from the plant, covering areas of Westchester, Rockland, Orange and Putnam Counties.
• About 292,000 people live within this evacuation zone.
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It would take an estimated 10-15 hours to evacuate this area - if everything goes according to plan.
• The plan calls for people to be taken to reception centers 11-23 miles from the plant, still in harms way.
What it doesn't tell you is that in the case of an evacuation, if you have children in school, your children will be picked up by school buses (assuming the bus drivers arrive and don't evacuate themselves first), and taken to an *undisclosed* location. Parents and guardians will not be told the location of there destination until the children are there. This is the plan for at least Rockland County, NY.
I don't know about you, but I would *not* rely on a stranger to pick up my children and more importantly I would demand to know where they are being taken. I would need to be with my children in the case of such a devestating event!! This plan is destined to only result in chaos, because I know every mother, father, grandparent, guardian, and even brothers and sisters would be panicking, trying desperately to get to their loved ones.
Wouldn't you?
You think that is bad? There is NO emergency evacuation plan for NYC...at all. New York City is only 24 miles downwind of Indian Point.
Now, after all of the information that most politicians and certainly Entergy, don't want you to know: Without Indian Point, the Summer 2004 energy supply for NYC is 2000 Megawatts higher than estimated demand.
So is it worth it? Is running this power plant worth risking the lives of millions of people and poisoning the environment around it?
Developmental and neurological disabilities as well as ailments such as asthma are always at abnormally high rates in areas surrounding poorly maintained power plants.
Why, when we could and have, switch to wind and solar power, especially in the coastal regions, should we keep taking such a risk?
Will it damage the economy of the town it resides in? Closing Indian point would not severely damage the economy of the town. It may affect their property taxes, but there are plenty of ways to take action and protect their homes and jobs, and many people willing to help!
So, what about jobs? Those who work at Indian Point could continue to work on it as it shuts down and apply for work at the wind farms.
What about our energy supply? There would still be a surplus, Indian Point doesn't produce enough energy to effect us if it weren't online. It would not make much of a difference at all in our energy bills, and, in the long run, actually save you money. Indian Point is not vital.
What can we do? Here are some important links:
Call For A Shut Down
Resolution Opposing Indian Point's License Renewal
Send Letters to Your NYC Elected Officials
Organize Your Community
Conserve Energy
Learn More By Visiting These Websites
Indian Point- NYPIRG
NYPIRG
