Energy company Florida Power & Light (FPL), which operates two nuclear plants in southern Florida, announced that it will stop if a hurricane Irma will not change its trajectory.
«We expect difficult weather conditions in Florida since Saturday. This means that until that time, we can disable the station», — told Reuters a company spokesman Peter Robbins.
Robbins added that they are monitoring the weather and, on this basis, modify plans.
FPL operates nuclear power plant St. Lucie on Hutchinson island is located 55 miles (88 km) North of West palm beach. Two reactors generate sufficient electricity for a million homes. The second nuclear plant Turkey Point in Biscayne Bay is located 24 miles South of Miami. It also has two reactors generating power for 900 homes.
According to the company, the station is designed to withstand extreme natural phenomena, including hurricanes and severe flooding. So, in 1992, Turkey Point survived hurricane Andrew , the 5th category (the same as Irma). Station St. Lucie remained intact after hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2005.
«This is one of the safest and most secure buildings in the state, if not the country,» stressed Robbins.
