Emergency Planning Zone

Protecting Health and Safety

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The area approximately 10 miles around the Indian Point is called the Emergency Planning Zone. The federal government set the 10-mile radius as the area requiring emergency plans for protecting health and safety in radiological emergencies.

A radiological emergency at Indian Point would mean that radioactive materials either escaped or could possibly escape from the plant. The materials would be in the form of a vapor or very fine particles that, if released to the air, would be carried by the wind. Radioactive materials would float with the wind in patterns called plumes— like smoke from a smokestack. While you couldn’t see, feel or smell these plumes, state and county emergency workers could accurately track them with scientific instruments. The goal of emergency planners is to prevent or limit people’s exposure to the radioactive materials.

The counties in the Emergency Planning Zone are Westchester, Orange, Rockland and Putnam.

The Emergency Planning Zone is further divided into sub-areas called Emergency Response Planning Areas (ERPA). To be prepared for an emergency, you will need to determine the number of the ERPA you live or work in.

Knowing your Emergency Response Planning Area, or ERPA number, is very important since any emergency instructions that you will receive on radio and TV will be for specific ERPAs. The broadcasts will inform people, depending upon which ERPA they are in, about protective actions they should take.

Below is an interactive map listing all 51 ERPAs. Please click on your ERPA/county for resources specific to your area, such as emergency bus routes, locations to obtain KI, and more.

Non-Emergency Contacts