Information excerpted from the Verizon phone book for Brooke and Hancock counties.

Please note:
This information was prepared by the Hancock County/City of Weirton Local Emergency Planning Committee using the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a guide and is supplied by Verizon as a public service. The West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Verizon and the LEPC assume no liability and will not be responsible for any injury which is the consequence of any action (or inaction) undertaken by any person which is in any way related to the information in the "Important Emergency Information" guide.

Information Specific to Beaver Valley Power Station Emergencies

Although it is very unlikely that a nuclear power plant accident will occur that will cause severe health effects to the general public, a 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone is required around all nuclear facilities to assure that prompt and effective actions can be taken to protect the public in the event of an accident. Portions of northern Hancock County are within the EPZ for Beaver Valley Power Station.

Not all incidents or events at the Beaver Valley Power Station are emergencies. Incidents occur at the plant during day-to-day operations that do not affect the public. If an incident or event is identified as an emergency, it would be placed in one of four emergency classifications. These are listed below:

TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW
(Emergency Classification Levels)

1. A "Notification of Unusual Event" is the least serious of the four emergency classifications. Strict federal rules require that a number of problems are reported as Unusual Events even though they pose no danger to the public. They are reported to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and to officials in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

2. An "Alert" is an event that could affect plant safety. Even though there is still no danger to the public, local and state officials will set up emergency operations centers in case the situation at the plant gets worse.

3. A "Site Area Emergency" is an event that could possibly affect the public. The sirens may be sounded to alert the public to listen to their radios and TV for information and instructions. In the event of a “Site Area Emergency” declaration, an early precautionary transfer or relocation of students within the 10-mile EPZ will occur.

4. A "General Emergency" is the most serious of the four emergency classifications. Local, state and federal authorities would take action to protect the public and the Emergency Alert System would continue to give information and instructions. If necessary, some areas would be sheltered or evacuated.

What is Radiation?

Nuclear radiation consists of energy in the form of invisible particles or rays given off by radioactive material. Small amounts of radioactive material occur naturally and always have been part of man's environment. Radioactive materials in varying amounts are present in the earth's crust, the sun's rays, the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. As a result, every person has radioactive materials within his body. Larger amounts of radioactive materials are produced by and contained within a nuclear power plant.

Man's use of radioactive materials also results in radiation exposure. For example, doctors and scientists have utilized X-rays in medical treatment for years. The amount of radiation a person receives is measured in terms of radiation dose. The unit used to measure this dose is called a millirem.

For More Information

Contact the Hancock County Office of Emergency Management, 102 Court Street, Post Office Box 884, New Cumberland, WV 26047; telephone number 564- 4040 or 564-4100.

Evacuation Routes

Depending upon the type of emergency and its location, evacuation routes will be determined by the appropriate emergency management officials at the time of the evacuation decision. The following major thoroughfares and streets will be utilized whenever possible.

Main Evacuation Routes

• Lawrenceville, Chester, Newell and areas served by state Route 2:
  
  Take Route 2 south.

• Areas served by County route 208:
  
  Take Route 208 west, then Route 2 north.

• New Manchester and areas served by State Route-8, 7 and 9:
  
  Take state Route 2 south to Route 105 east.

If the order is given to evacuate and you have no transportation, please go to the following: Lawrenceville Fire Department, Chester Fire Department, Newell Fire Department and New Manchester Fire Department.

If the order is given to evacuate during school hours, children attending Allen T. Allison Elementary, Oak Glen Middle School, Jefferson Elementary, New Manchester Elementary, Oak Glen High or the John D. Rockefeller Vocational Technical School will be transported by bus to Weir High School in Weirton. A precautionary transfer of all school children within the 10-mile EPZ will occur at the declaration of a “Site Area Emergency”.

Evacuation Centers

• Mass Care Centers in Weirton
• Weir High School
• Millsop Community Center

Special Assistance for the Disabled

Do not wait for an emergency! If you are disabled or have difficulty moving about, please call your local county office of Emergency Services now or send them a postcard with your name, address and telephone number, the extent of your difficulty and any other pertinent information about the state of your health (medicines, diet, etc.). This information will be kept confidential and will be placed on file so that, in the event of an emergency, you will receive the necessary assistance to safety. Call the Hancock County OES 564-4040 or 564-4100, or the Brooke County OES at 527-2345 or 737-3660.

Remember Your Pets

Your family emergency plan should include your pets. Different emergencies require different responses. But whether the emergency is a chemical leak or a winter storm, you may have to evacuate your home. The best way to protect your pets is to evacuate them too.

1. Plan to take your pets to a friend's or relative's home or to a hotel that accepts pets during an emergency. Pets are not permitted in Red Cross emergency shelters because of health regulations.

2. Transport pets in sturdy carriers.

3. Have identification, collar, leash and proof of vaccinations for all pets.

4. Have food and water for your pets.

5. Have a current photo of your pets in case they get lost.

How to Get Medical, Fire Fighting and/or Law Enforcement Help During an Emergency

For any type of emergency, medical, fire fighting, and/or law enforcement help, call 9-1-1.

1. Give your name, address, including community and zip code and the nature of the emergency.

2. Stay on the line until told you may hang up.

3. Stay calm and answer as clearly as possible any questions asked.

Notification of an Emergency

If there is an emergency, you will be warned in one or more ways in the Hancock County and Weirton area and informed of the protective action(s) to take. Early warning sirens are located in many parts of our area. A steady, high-pitched tone of the siren for three minutes means that you should turn on the radio or television to a local station for information on what to do. Emergency information will be broadcast by the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

In other areas, emergency vehicles with loud speakers will travel through the affected neighborhoods to provide emergency warning. If you hear a warning through this method, turn on your radio or TV station to listen to the EAS for instructions. Cable TV stations serving some of our areas will convey emergency "warnings" and/or general information to those households with cable TV service. If the message is only a "warning," you will be instructed to tune in to a local EAS station.

The Emergency Alert System is activated by key officials in our area and is used to provide emergency information and directions over local radio and TV stations as listed below. WWVA Radio (1170 AM) and WTRF TV (Channel 7) are the lead stations for the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. The other stations repeat the messages on a sequential basis. EAS information is updated every 10-20 minutes. Stay tuned to your EAS station until the emergency is over.

EAS Stations for the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia WWVA 1170 AM*** The lead EAS radio station ***
WEIR ........................1430 AM
WOMP ......................1290 AM
WBBD ......................1400 AM
WOVK ...................... 98.7 FM
WEEL ........................95.7 FM
WKWK...................... 97.3 FM
WHLX ......................105.5 FM
WOMP ......................100.5 FM
WEG.W ....................107.5 FM
WVNP (Public Radio) 89.9 FM
WWYS......................106.3 FM

WTRF Channel 7 (CBS affiliate)*** Lead EAS television, station***
WTOV Channel 9 (NBC affiliate)