Every year a training exercise is conducted at each of Virginia’s two nuclear power stations: Surry Nuclear Power Station and the North Anna Power Station. On July 10, it was the turn of the North Anna plant. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management led the Virginia Operations Plan Exercise (VOPEX) which simulated a radiological emergency at the North Anna plant. The exercise is designed to help state and local governments test their response procedures to a potential radiological emergency.

During VOPEX response agencies and local government representatives role-played their emergency functions from state and local government emergency operations centers. This VOPEX included Caroline, Hanover, Louisa, Orange and Spotsylvania counties. Law enforcement personnel implemented traffic control measures in the field and local and state radiological monitoring teams undertook simulated field readings and communications drills.

The VOPEX was monitored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who will also undertake an in-depth analysis of the results. FEMA will then review the success of the exercise at a public meeting.