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associated with the chemical weathering and dissolution <br />of limestone or dolomite, the two most common <br />carbonate rocks in Florida. Dissolution of carbonate <br />rocks begins when they are exposed to acidic water. <br />Most rainwater is slightly acidic and usually becomes <br />more acidic as it moves through decaying plant debris. <br />Limestones in Florida are porous, allowing the acidic <br />water to percolate through them, dissolving some <br />limestone and carrying it away in solution. Over time, <br />this persistent erosion process has created extensive <br />underground voids and drainage systems in much of <br />the carbonate rocks throughout the state. Collapse of <br />overlying sediments into the underground cavities <br />produces sinkholes (Florida Geological Survey, 1998). <br />2. Technological Hazards <br />a. Radiological Accidents <br />While an actual release of radioactive material is extremely <br />unlikely and the immediate threat to like extremely low, <br />vulnerability to a nuclear plant disaster could consist of long <br />range health effects with temporary and permanent <br />displacement of population from affected areas (Florida <br />Department of Community Affairs, 1998). The potential <br />danger from an accident at a nuclear power plant is exposure <br />to radiation. This exposure could come from the release of <br />radioactive material from the plant into the environment, <br />usually characterized by a plume (cloud like) formation. The <br />area the radioactive release may affect is determined by the <br />amount released from the plant, wind direction and speed, and <br />weather conditions (e.g., rain) which would quickly drive the <br />radioactive material into the ground, hence causing increased <br />deposition of radio nuclides. <br />Thirty of the 67 counties in the State of Florida are involved in <br />preparedness planning for a commercial nuclear power plant <br />emergency. Emergency Planning Zones (EPZ) have been <br />designated for each power plant to enhance planning efforts <br />for an emergency. An EPZ is comprised of two zones, the 10 - <br />mile plume exposure zone and the 50 -mile ingestion exposure <br />zone (Florida Community Affairs, 1998). Specific coordinating <br />procedures for response to a General Emergency at a nuclear <br />power plant have been prepared in the form of Standard <br />Operating Procedures. These include Emergency <br />Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 27 <br />