Massachusetts nuclear power plant closed down

Blizzard forces Massachusetts power station to shut down

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says a power plant in Massachusetts has lost power and shut down during a massive snowstorm.

Press TV,

9 February, 2013

The NRC says the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth experienced an automatic shutdown at around 9:15 p.m. Friday after losing off-site power. Spokesman Neil Sheehan says the plant has declared an unusual event, which is the lowest level of emergency classification.

Sheehan says that the reactor shut down without any problems and that backup generators are powering plant equipment.

The NRC says there is no threat to public safety.

The shutdown came as a major snowstorm began clobbering the New York-to-Boston corridor, knocking out power to more than 300,000 customers in Massachusetts. AP

HIGHLIGHTS

A behemoth storm packing hurricane-force wind gusts and blizzard conditions swept through the Northeast on Saturday, dumping more than 2 feet of snow on New England and knocking out power to 650,000 homes and businesses. AP

With wind and heavy snow snapping power lines everywhere in the affected area, more than half a million customers sat in homes without electricity, including 389,000 in Massachusetts, 177,000 in Rhode Island, and 35,000 in Connecticut. AFP

The National Weather Service also warned there was more to come and said that some areas could be hit by coastal flooding due to a storm surge. At least two people died amid dozens of snow-related car accidents. NBC News

Ahead of the storm, locals were wondering whether it would match the intensity of the ferocious blizzard of 1978, which killed 100 people and buried Boston in more than 27 inches (69 centimeters) of snow and Providence, Rhode Island in nearly 28 inches. AFP

The Boston Bruins have also pushed back the start of Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning by six hours because of the blizzard hitting the Northeast. --CBSSports.com

The storm came a little over three months after Hurricane Sandy devastated swathes of New York and New Jersey, killing 132 people and causing damage worth some $71.4 billion.

North-east US beseiged by snow

More than 600,000 homes in the north-eastern United States are without power as a snowstorm continues 

for a second day.

Clearing the snow in Back Bay, Boston.

PHOTO: AFP

Radio NZ,

10 February, 2013

A nuclear power station in Massachusetts shut down as five states along the east coast declared a state of emergency.

Blizzard warnings are in effect from Newark, New Jersey to southern Maine. Many areas are under two feet of snow and more is expected - as much as three feet in some places.

The storm began on Friday. The BBC reports millions of people have been told to stay indoors and almost all flights have been cancelled.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has banned all non-essential traffic.

People have been warned to stock up on food and other supplies as the storm affects 25 million people in the region.

The National Weather Service said two weather systems from the polar and sub-tropical jet streams have combined.

In Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland are also under blizzard conditions.

CBC reported Ontario has already seen 200 vehicle accidents. At least three people have been killed.