Radiological Emergency at Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant

In Monroe County, Ocean Reef and Card Sound Road residents and visitors could be affected in the unlikely event of an accident at the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant, owned and operated by Florida Light & Power (FPL). This is Area 10 in the Emergency Planning Zone.

FPL Turkey Point Nuclear Plant Important Information Website

Monroe County subscribers to Alert!Monroe will receive messages on their preferred contact paths— cell phone, SMS (text), home phone, email, fax, pager, and more—to ensure real-time access to potentially lifesaving information. Residents listed in the Monroe County public white/yellow page database are automatically subscribed to alerts by phone, but Alert!Monroe allows citizens to self-register, provide additional contact information, or opt-out.

Signup for Alert!Monroe

In Monroe County, during an emergency, local fire, police, and emergency officials will patrol affected areas within the emergency zone to broadcast information via loudspeakers and/or go door-to-door to ensure residents are aware of the situation.

Zones and Areas

Ocean Reef and Card Sound Road residents and visitors are in Area 10 in the Emergency Planning Zone.

Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ)

Extends 10 miles from the nuclear power plant.
Exposure can be through direct contact with or inhalation of radioactive particles released in a plume.
The 10-mile area around the plant has been divided into evacuation and sheltering areas. These areas were established to allow local officials to provide clear evacuation and/or sheltering information for people in each area.
If there was an accident at Turkey Point, it is not likely everyone within 10 miles would be affected. The area affected would depend on weather conditions, such as wind speed, wind direction, and the severity of the situation. Monitor news channels, the radio, and this page for information.
Annually, FPL sends an information flyer to all residents and businesses within the 10-mile zone with important emergency information.
- Annual FPL Emergency Information Flyer

Ingestion Pathway Zone (IPZ)

Extends 50 miles from the nuclear power plant.
Exposure can be through the consumption of contaminated agricultural and dairy products.

Radiological Emergency Preparedness

In 1979, following Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident, the federal lead role in offsite radiological emergency planning and preparedness activities were transferred from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA established the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program to:

Ensure the health and safety of citizens living around commercial nuclear power plants would be adequately protected in the event of a nuclear power plant accident.
Inform and educate the public about radiological emergency preparedness.

REP Program responsibilities encompass only offsite activities, which include emergency planning and preparedness activities that take place beyond the nuclear power plant boundaries. Onsite activities continue to be the responsibility of the NRC.