A spokesman for the Millstone nuclear power plant complex in Connecticut says workers will shut down the two operating reactors there if winds from Hurricane Irene exceed 90 mph. Spokesman Ken Holt says officials at the power complex in Waterford along Long Island Sound were monitoring the storm Saturday. He says if winds reach or are expected to reach above 90 mph, then workers will begin a shutdown process that takes several hours.
Holt says Millstone has strong flood barriers and water-tight doors. He says Millstone was built to withstand hurricanes and earthquakes.
The brunt of Irene is expected to hit Connecticut on Sunday morning as a Category 1 hurricane, which can have sustained winds of 74 to 95 mph. Source
