Missouri River causes “unusual event” at U.S. Nuclear Plants

The Cooper Nuclear Station, in Nebraska, is flooded.  The Fort Calhoun nuclear plant, also in Nebraska, has been shut down.

By Sunday, 19 June 2011, several levees failed along the Missouri River, causing nuke plant operators to issue a “Notification of unusual event.” A ‘notification’ is the lowest of four emergency classifications developed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Reuters reported that officials will shut down the Cooper nuclear plant if flood levels hit 13.9 meters (45.5 feet).  Other reports say the Fort Calhoun plant was shut down.  Heavy rain in the Rocky Mountains could keep the Missouri River high until August.