James City County will be able to continue its efforts to prepare residents for a radiological emergency with help from a state grant.
The county fire department’s emergency management division received a $30,000 grant from Dominion Virginia Power through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
The county is eligible for the grant because of its proximity to the Surry Power Station nuclear power plant.
The grant does not require a local match.
The grant will be used to plan actions to protect the public if a radiological emergency takes place at the plant. Division manager Kathleen Hale said county employees ranging from public safety officials and school personnel to the county administrator must participate in training to prepare for an emergency. The division also provides resources for residents so they know how to respond and mans a 24/7 emergency operations center.
The county has previously received $25,000 grants from Dominion for emergency preparedness. Hale said the additional $5,000 this year will go toward the cost of maintaining alert warning and notification systems, such as JCC Alert.
Hale said residents can sign up for JCC Alert to receive warnings about natural disasters and other emergencies by phone, text message or email.