Minnesota's Nuclear Power Plants Using New Public Alert System

Minnesota's two nuclear power facilities are changing the way they will alert the public to emergency situations. While it's something everyone hopes never has to be used, knowing how these emergency messages are being shared is pretty important.

Earlier this year, Xcel Energy, the operator of Minnesota's only two nuclear power facilities, announced it will be using a new way to alert the public to emergencies that would require action.

For decades, civil alert sirens have been the way the public would be alerted in the event of an issue at either the Monticello or Prairie Island nuclear plants that would require evacuation or other public action.

Prairie Island is located about 40 miles southeast of the Twin Cities and about 5 miles north of Red Wing, and generates about 20% of the electricity used by customers in the Upper Midwest, according to Xcel Energy. The Monticello plant is located between the Twin Cities and St. Cloud, and generates about 10% of the electricity used by customers in the Upper Midwest.

Xcel Energy says this siren network, which covered about 630 square miles, had some limitations. For example, hearing the sirens indoors or knowing what action to take were shortcomings of this alert system.

Partnering with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Homeland Security Emergency Management (HSEM) division, these two nuclear facilities will now be able to use the same mobile phone alert technology used for severe weather and AMBER Alerts.

Xcel Energy says the new phone alerts are better for a number of reasons, including a better way to target people in specific areas, as well as to provide detailed instructions on what to do in the event one of these alerts needs to be sent out - and let's hope they never do need to be sent out.

In addition, the messaging will be available in multiple languages and will work even if you don't live in the impacted area, but you travel into it while with your phone.

Since coming online, neither of Minnesota's nuclear facilities has ever needed to use the emergency sirens. Xcel Energy says some communities where they were installed will remain and be used for severe weather and other alerts.