Full-Scale Emergency Drill Planned Wednesday at Former Piketon Atomic Plant

PIKETON, Ohio — Southern Ohio Cleanup Company LLC is advising residents not to be alarmed if they notice an increased emergency response at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant this week.

The company announced that a full-scale emergency drill will be conducted Wednesday, July 22, at the Pike County site as part of its annual emergency preparedness program.

According to Southern Ohio Cleanup Company, the exercise is designed to simulate an emergency and test the site's response capabilities under realistic conditions.

The drill will involve the Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office's Emergency Management teams and will test coordination among the site's Emergency Operations Center, Joint Information Center, Fire Department, Pro-Force security personnel, and other departments.

Officials said the annual exercises are intended to ensure emergency personnel are prepared to respond effectively to a wide range of potential incidents.

The company emphasized that the event is only a training exercise and that there is no actual emergency at the former uranium enrichment facility.

Residents near the site may notice emergency vehicles or increased activity during the drill, but officials said the public should not be concerned.