Storm injures 30, closes nuclear plant

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

This is of general interest:

Thursday June 25 5:37 PM EDT 

PORT CLINTON, Ohio, June 25 (UPI) - A violent ``super cell'' storm producing 
at least two tornadoes and high winds closed the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power 
Plant, drastically reducing the amount of power available across Ohio as heat-
humidity indices soared well above the 100-degree level. 

The Wednesday evening storms also prompted a state of emergency in north-
central Ohio, where tornadoes and high winds downed numerous trees, power 
lines, utility poles and electric transmission towers, closing dozens of rural 
roadways near the Lake Erie shoreline. 

Approximately 30 people were injured as a result of the storms but no life-
threatening injuries or fatalities were reported. 

A tornado touched down about 9 p.m. near the nuclear plant's cooling tower, 
located about 15 miles west of Toledo. Coast Guard officials who inspected the 
plant by helicopter said roofs were blow off two of the facility's buildings housing 
auxiliary generators and turbines. Several high-voltage transmission towers 
near the plant were toppled, preventing the facility from either receiving outside 
power or generating electricity. 

Davis-Besse officials declared an ``alert'' late Wednesday, the second of a four-
step emergency classification indicating the possibility the nuclear facility's 
level of safety had degraded. 

Ohio Emergency Management Agency and Ohio Health Department monitoring 
teams sent to the site to take air, water and soil samples reported no signs of 
radioactivity beyond normal background levels. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
experts were to inspect the facility today. 

At least five semi-trailers travelling on the Ohio Turnpike near Fremont were 
overturned by the high winds. 

The Coast Guard said two people aboard an 18-foot boat that was caught by 
the storm were rescued by a commercial salvage operator after winds and 
waves capsized their vessel.

------------------
Sandy Perle
Technical Director
ICN Dosimetry Division
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306 
Fax:    (714) 668-3111
  
sandyfl@earthlink.net
sperle@icnpharm.com

ICN Dosimetry Website:
http://www.dosimetry.com

Personal Website:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1205

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