(Smyrna) – Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) officials, along with other emergency response agencies across the state are monitoring the snowstorm that is making its way through the state overnight.  The National Weather Service (NWS) posted a Winter Storm Warning for New Castle County earlier today, extended the warning to Kent and Sussex Counties Thursday evening, while increasing the amount of snow expected.  NWS forecasters are now saying that as much as 6-8 inches of snow could fall in New Castle and Kent Counties, with 3-5 inches in Sussex County.

The weather conditions bring two problems to the state – snow accumulations and high winds.  Coastal Flood Advisories are up for Kent and Sussex Counties.  Additionally, the winds will cause the snow to drift and create patchy areas on roadways.  Drivers should use extreme caution throughout the storm period.  The other problem is the extreme cold associated with this weather.  Temperatures will be in the teens overnight across the state, and by morning, wind chills could register around -5 degrees Fahrenheit.  Those venturing outside should dress appropriately as hypothermia is a possible danger.  Pets should be sheltered or brought indoors.

Delaware State Police report:

New Castle County

Main and secondary roads are still passable, however they are becoming snow covered. Only one lane is getting by on most major roads. It is snowing heavily and is windy. Roads are treacherous. 33 accidents and disabled vehicles in a two hour period.

Property Damage Accidents: 33

Personal Injury Accidents: 0

Disabled vehicles: 12

Kent County

Roads are snow covered or accumulating.

Personal Injury Accidents: 2

Property Damage Accidents: 9

Disabled Vehicles: 1

Sussex County

Primary and secondary roads in the north of county are starting to cover. Southern roads just wet. Snow is falling in all parts of county at this time.

Personal Injury: Accidents 0

Property Damage Accidents: 2

Disabled Vehicles: 0

DelDOT dropped the speed limit on I-495 to 45MPH earlier in the evening due to road conditions.

(Smyrna) – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and Delaware Division of Public Health will distribute potassium iodide (KI) tablets to Delaware residents living within a ten mile radius of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations.

The free tablets will be distributed on Thursday, October 24, 2013, between noon and 7:00PM at the Townsend Fire Station.  The station is located 107 Main Street in Townsend.  Delaware residents living within the affected ten mile radius, called the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ), have received notification of the distribution via U.S. Mail.

Potassium Iodide will be available to residents who received it previously and whose tablets have reached their expiration date, as well as those who never received the tablets before.  Individuals with home or business addressed within the EPZ are eligible to receive the KI tablets.  The State of Delaware received the tablets when it chose to participate in a program initiated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Potassium iodide does not protect against external radiation, but can help protect the thyroid gland from ingested or inhaled radioactive iodine that might be released in a radiation emergency.  KI is one of the measures outlined in Delaware’s emergency plans developed for use in a nuclear incident.  The primary method of protecting residents is evacuation of the EPZ.  Potassium iodide offers additional protection.

In the event of a radiation emergency, state and local officials will inform the public through an Emergency Alert System (EAS) message via local radio stations.  The messages will include instructions on how affected residents should react, directions to evacuation routes and emergency reception centers, and when to take the KI tablets.

All Delaware residents living within the 10-mile EPZ, as well as those who work or own businesses within the Emergency Planning Zone are eligible to receive the free potassium iodide tablets.  By following the guidelines included in the informational mailing, they can assist in making the distribution effective and efficient.

Those who are eligible to receive the KI tablets should bring a photo ID such as a driver’s license, or proof of residency such as a utility bill with them to the distribution center at Townsend Fire Station.  Individuals in possession of potassium iodide that has passed the expiration date can bring those tablets to the distribution center to receive new tablets.

Delaware residents living outside of the 10-mile EPZ who would like to obtain potassium iodide tablets should contact their pharmacist.  KI is available over-the-counter at some local pharmacies.

For additional information regarding the potassium iodide distribution program in Delaware, call the Delaware Emergency Management Agency Radiological Emergency Planning section at 302-659-3362.

(Smyrna) – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and Delaware State Police will conduct a quarterly test of the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations Alert and notification system on Tuesday, October 8, 2013.  Sirens will sound between 9:00AM and 12:00 noon.

The 37 sirens located within ten miles of the Salem/Hope Creek (New Jersey) plants will be activated for three to five minutes.  The siren tests will be followed by a test message of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on local radio stations.

Sirens that will be tested are the same sirens that would alert the public in the event of an actual emergency at either the Salem or Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations.  In such an emergency, the public would be alerted by the sirens to tune radios to one of the local EAS stations for important emergency instructions.

 (Smyrna) – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is proud to acknowledge special recognition given to Delaware Citizen Corps.  Citizen Corps is a volunteer-centered organization that conducts public education and outreach about emergency preparedness, and conducts training to help volunteers play important roles during disasters.

Delaware Citizen Corps was honored by Region III of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in two categories.  The organization was awarded for Outstanding State Citizen Corps Council Initiatives, and in the classification of Preparing the Whole Community.  This is the third consecutive year in which the Delaware Citizen Corps has received a National Citizen Corps Council award.

DEMA Director Jamie Turner joined with FEMA in hailing the Citizen Corps preparedness efforts: “I am proud of the work done throughout the year by Citizen Corps.   Their efforts are an important part in preparing Delaware for potential disasters of all kinds.  Through continued work with the City of Wilmington, New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties, state and local Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), and events such as the Family Emergency Preparedness Day, and Citizen Corps Preparedness Night at Blue Rocks Stadium, Citizen Corps provides a valuable service to the entire state. ”

Delaware Citizen Corps works under the umbrella of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA).

(Smyrna) – Emergency responders from New Castle County, the Town of Townsend, and Christiana Hospital will participate in an exercise on Thursday, September 12, 2013, designed to demonstrate capabilities for medical services for contaminated and injured victims of a radiological emergency.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires that response agencies demonstrate their capabilities during an evaluated exercise.  FEMA will provide the evaluators. The exercise is designed to show how the county, municipal, and hospital responders, show their capability of transporting the contaminated or injured victims, as well as the hospital’s capability to handle an injured and contaminated victim without spreading the contamination to non-affected personnel.

Officials from the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), the New Castle County Office of Emergency Management, and Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) will observe the exercise.