Florence Floodwaters Limit Access To Nuclear Power Plant, 'Unusual Event' Declared

Florence floodwaters limit access to nuclear power plant, 'unusual event' declared

A nuclear power plant just outside of Wilmington, North Carolina declared an "unusual event" Monday after rising floodwaters and storm damage caused limited access to the facility, officials said. Duke Energy's Brunswick Nuclear Plant – located about 30 miles south of Wilmington – declared the state of emergency, the lowest required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, after roads surrounding the 1,200-acre complex were impacted by flooding and downed trees.“None of the roads are passable,” NRC spokesman Joey Ledford told the News & Observer. “The plant is safe. The reactors are in hot stand-by mode 3 shutdown.” Ledford told Fox News in an email that the twin-reactor nuclear plant is stable and poses no threat to public safety, as floodwaters have not entered the facility or threatened any important equipment. Source