The NRC continues to monitor impacts from Hurricane Sandy on nuclear power plants in the Northeastern U.S., and as of 3 p.m. EDT today, no plants have had to shut down as a result of the storm. Several plants in the region are already out of service for regularly scheduled refueling and maintenance outages.
All plants remain in a safe condition, with emergency equipment available if needed and NRC inspectors on-site.
This is what Chairman Allison Macfarlane had to say about the NRC’s action: “Given the breadth and intensity of this historic storm, the NRC is keeping a close watch on all of the nuclear power plants that could be impacted. Our extra inspectors sent to the potentially affected sites will continue, on an around-the-clock basis, to independently verify that the safety of these plants is maintained until the storm has passed and afterwards.”
The NRC has inspectors at all of the plants that could experience effects of the storm. These include: Oyster Creek, in Lacey Township, N.J.; Salem and Hope Creek, in Hancocks Bridge, N.J.; Calvert Cliffs, in Lusby, Md.; Limerick, in Limerick Township, Pa.; Peach Bottom, in Delta, Pa.; Three Mile Island, in Middletown, Pa.; Susquehanna, in Salem Township, Pa.; Indian Point, in Buchanan, N.Y.; and Millstone, in Waterford, Conn.
Those inspectors will independently verify that operators are following relevant procedures to ensure plant safety before, during and after the storm. In addition, the NRC is monitoring the storm from its emergency response centers.
Nuclear power plant procedures require that the facilities shut down under certain severe weather conditions. The plants’ emergency diesel generators are available if off-site power is lost during the storm. Also, all plants have flood protection above the predicted storm surge, and key components and systems are housed in watertight buildings capable of withstanding hurricane-force winds and flooding.
The NRC will continue to track Hurricane Sandy using the resources of all federal agencies and several weather forecasting services. The agency will also continue to communicate on storm-related developments with other federal and state agencies.
The NRC asks that if you are not a member of the media or a licensee and need to contact the agency, please use 817-200-1868. We are monitoring that voice mail box regularly. We ask that you do not call the NRC emergency line unless it is an emergency.
Eliot Brenner Public Affairs Director
U.S. NRC Blog 
Yes, thank you. Post has been edited.
All plants have defined criteria by which they must shut down in adverse weather conditions. Nuclear power plants, including Salem and Hope Creek are designed to withstand natural events, including hurricanes. Plants have emergency diesel generators to provide power if off-site power is lost during the storm. All plants have flood protections above the predicted storm surge, and key components and systems also are housed in buildings capable of withstanding hurricane force winds and flooding.
Millstone 2 is also shutdown for normal refuel outage.
The eye of the storm is headed up the Delaware Bay in about 1 hour. Why have you not closed down Hope Creek and Salem?