Show All Answers

1. What is sheltering in place?

At Home:

Bring children and pets indoors immediately, tune into the official TV/radio station, close and lock all doors & windows, turn off ventilation systems only if they draw in outside air, cover food/place it in a refrigerator, move to interior room/basement

In a Vehicle

If you are very close to home, your workplace, or a public building, go there immediately and go inside. If you are unable to get indoors quickly and safely, continue driving away from the nuclear plant for a distance of at least 10 miles. Close windows and vents. If possible, set the ventilation system to recirculate the air inside the vehicle. Avoid shutting off your air conditioning system if it is a hot day. Overheating your body can be dangerous. Listen to the radio for updated information and instructions.

At Work

Employers should close the office, making any customers, clients, or visitors in the building aware that they need to stay until the emergency is over. Close and lock all windows, exterior doors, and any other openings to the outside. Avoid overcrowding by preselecting several interior rooms with the fewest number of windows or vents. Switch the ventilating and air conditioning systems to recirculate the air inside the structure, if possible. Employers should ask employees, customers, clients, and visitors to call their emergency contacts to let them know where they are and that they are safe. If the business has voicemail or an automated attendant, it should be switched to a recording that indicates that the business is closed, and that staff and visitors are remaining in

the building until authorities advise it is safe to leave. One person per room should write down the names of everyone in the room. Call your business designated emergency contact to report who is in the room with you and their affiliation with your business (employee, visitor, client, customer). Listen to the radio or television for updated advice and instructions.

2. If asked to evacuate, where do I go?

Southbound on U.S. 1 to Key Largo School, 104801, Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037

3. Do I get my kids from school?

Academy at Ocean Reef/Reef Club Kids

In the unlikely event of an emergency, if you have not received early dismissal notification, proceed to the Emergency Reception Center at Key Largo School, 104801, Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037. Key Largo School is the host facility for Academy at Ocean Reef and Reef Club Kids children. 

School Relocation

In an emergency, school children may be proactively relocated to host facilities outside the emergency planning zone. Public and private schools in the 10-mile emergency planning zone have emergency plans in place to ensure the safety of children. Please check with your school to learn more about their emergency plans. 

• DO NOT disrupt an evacuation by attempting to pick up your children at their school. This causes traffic congestion, security risks and impedes the ability of authorities to move children to safety. 
• Parents and guardians can children at the host facility:
  • Academy at Ocean Reef and Reef Club Kids will relocate to Key Largo Elementary School, 104801 Overseas Highway
• Do not phone the school as the phone lines are needed for emergency use. 
• Local radio and television stations will announce when and where school children may be picked up.

Key Largo School

No, await instruction from Monroe County School District. Key Largo School is outside of the 10-mile emergency planning zone.

4. What is potassium iodide (KI) and do I need it?

Radioactive iodine may be released during a nuclear power plant accident. Potassium iodide (KI) is stable iodine that saturates the thyroid with non-radioactive iodine. Any radioactive iodine subsequently taken up by the body will not be absorbed by the thyroid and will be excreted. DOH may recommend KI for potentially affected populations.

In the event of an evacuation or radiological release, evacuees from affected sectors in the 10-mile EPZ (radius around Turkey Point) may receive KI from the Emergency Reception Center at the Key Largo School, 104801, Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037, if FDOH recommends it. The FDOH keeps on hand enough KI for those who live within the 10-mile zone. 

5. Am I safe if I live in Key Largo/Tavernier/Islamorada/Key West?

If you are not within the declared evacuation area, you should not evacuate. Evacuating when not required has the potential to increase the risk to your family and others by impeding the outbound traffic flow and slowing the evacuation from the affected area. Tune into media for more information on your location.

If there were a release, those within the 10-mile radius should be hyper alert to protective measures. Key Largo south of the junction of State Road 905 and Card Sound Road is outside of the 10-mile radius.

6. Is it safe to eat and drink?

Is tap water safe to drink? 

In the event of a release, probably, but until there are drinking water test results, only bottled water and sealed juice or soda containers is certain to be free of radioactive contamina­tion. Wipe or rinse the outside of bottles or cans before opening them. Tap or well water can be used for cleaning yourself and your food.

Is food safe to eat?

In the event of a release, food in sealed containers (cans, bottles, boxes, etc.) and any unspoiled food in your refrigerator or freezer is safe to eat. Use a damp towel or cloth to wipe off cans, bottles, packaged foods, counters, plates, pots and utensils before using them. Seal these towels or cleaning cloths in a plastic bag and place them away from people and pets. However, any unpackaged food that was out in the open and near the incident may have radioactive dust on it. Therefore, don’t consume food that was out in the open.

7. Where can I get more information?

Monroe County Emergency Management will update news and media sources with the latest information, as well as www.monroecountyem.com/turkeypoint.

Monroe County Emergency Management Social Media: www.facebook.com/monroecountyem and Twitter: www.twitter.com/monroecounty. Monroe County BOCC will also update on the Nextdoor application.

Sign up for emergency alerts at www.monroecountyem.com/alertmonroe. Protective measures will be pushed through this system to those in the affected areas via this system. 

AM Radio

• WFFG 1300 (Primary emergency alert system station)
• WKWF 1600

FM Radio (Primary emergency alert system stations):

• WFKZ 103.1
• WEOW 92.7
• WWUS 104.1

Additional stations:

• WKLG 102.1
• WMKL 91.7
• WKEZ 96.9
• WCTH 100.3
• WGMX 94.3
• WAVK 105.5
• WPIK 102.5
• WJIR 90.9
• WKEY 93.5
• WCNK 98.7
• WAIL 99.5
• WIIS 107.1

TV Stations - Please consult your area cable listing for these channels:

• WFOR channel 4
• WTVJ channel 6
• WSVN channel 7
• WPLG channel 10
• WLTV channel 23
• WSCV channel 51

8. What do the Emergency Classification Levels mean?

1. UNUSUAL EVENT: Situations that are either in the process of occurring or have occurred, which indicate a potential degradation of the level of safety of the plant or indicate a security threat to facility protection has been initiated.

2. ALERT: Events are in process or have occurred, which involve an actual or potential substantial degradation of the level of safety of the plant, or a security event that involves probable life-threatening risk to site personnel, or damage to site equipment because of hostile action.

3. SITE AREA EMERGENCY: Events are in process or have occurred, which involve actual or likely major failures of plant functions needed for the protection of the public, or hostile action that results in intentional damage or malicious acts; (1) toward site personnel or equipment that could lead to the likely failure of, or; (2) prevent effective access to, equipment needed for the protection of the public.

4. GENERAL EMERGENCY: Events are in process or have occurred, which involve actual or imminent substantial core degradation or, melting with potential for loss of containment integrity, or hostile action that results in actual loss of physical control of the facility.

9. If asked to evacuate, can I bring my pet?

If you are directed to evacuate, you will want to take your pets with you. 

Plan now for what you will do and how you will protect them. Please keep in mind that pet owners are ultimately responsible for their pet’s needs at the public shelter. 

Pet guidelines:

• Space for pets at public shelters is limited and is intended for individuals with pets living in areas ordered to evacuate. 
• Owners should bring identification since it may be necessary for pet and owner reunification. 
• Pet owners should bring a kennel or carrier, food for five days, bedding, bowls, toys, and any needed pet medications. 
• All dogs and cats should have a current rabies vaccination, dog license, or microchip, and be current on flea and tick preventive measures. 
• Pet owners will not be permitted to leave the shelters without their pets. 
• Nonservice animals may be housed in a separate area of the shelter