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a key destination for illegal immigration . Medical facilities are adequate for cu Brent need , but would be stressed if forced to deal with a major disease outbreak . 4.2 TECHNOLOGICAL HAZARDS This subsection will now identify those hazards in Indian River County identified as being technological hazards . 4 .2 . 1 Radiological Accidents While an actual release of radioactive material is extremely unlikely and the immediate threat to life extremely low , vulnerability to a nuclear plant disaster ould consist of long -range health effects with temporary and permanent displacement of pop lation from affected areas . The potential danger from an accident at a nuclear power pla t is exposure to radiation . This exposure could come from the release of radioactive material from the plant into the environment, usually characterized by a plume (cloudlike) forma ion . The area the radioactive release may affect is determined by the amount released from the plant , wind direction and speed and weather conditions (e . g . , rain ) , which would quickly d sive the radioactive material into the ground , hence causing increased deposition of ra Jionuclides . Thirty of the 67 counties in the State of Florida are involved in prep 3redness planning for a commercial nuclear power plant emergency . Emergency Plann ng Zones ( EPZs ) have been designated for each power plant to enhance planning effort for an emergency . An EPZ is comprised of two zones , the 10- mile plume exposure Zone and the 50- mile ingestion exposure zone ( Nuclear Energy Institute , 2004) . Specific coordinating 1%W procedures for response to a general emergency at a nuclear power plant ha been prepared in the form of standard operating procedures . These include emergency classification levels , which assist in notifying the public if a problem occurs at ca plant. They are defined by four categories ( FEMA , 2004 ) : • Notification of Unusual Event — The event poses no threat to plant employees , but emergency officials are notified . No action by the public is necessary. • Alert — An event has occurred that could reduce the plant' s leve I of safety , but back-up systems still work . Emergency agencies are notified aid kept informed , but no action by the public is necessary . • Site Area Emergency — The event involves major problems witIB the plant' s safety and has progressed to the point that a release of some radioactivity into the air or water is possible , but is not expected to exceed EPA Protective Action Guidelines ( PAGs ) . Thus , no action by the public is necessary . • General Emergency — The event has caused a loss of safety systems . If such an event occurs , radiation could be released that would penetrate the site boundary . State and local authorities will take action to protect the residents living near the plant. The alert and notification system will be sounded . People in the affected areas could be advised to evacuate , or in some situations , to shelter in place . When the sirens are sounded , radio and television alerts will have site-specific information and instructions . The St . Lucie nuclear power generation plant is located 12 mile SOL theast of the City of Ft. Pierce on Hutchinson Island in St. Lucie County . The facility contains two reactors ` %W and is owned and operated by the Florida Power & Light Company . Counties within the 4-53