MDCH Urging People Near Nuclear Plants To Get KI

The Michigan Department of Community Health is reminding everyone who lives within ten miles of the Palisades nuclear power plant to get your potassium iodine pills. The department issued the reminder this week following repairs to a leaking tank and a scathing safety culture report about Palisades from a third party in which employees expressed their frustrations with plant management. MDCH spokeswoman Angela Minicuci says they did not put the reminder out in response to anything at the plant, adding it's something they remind people of every year. A pharmacy voucher was sent out by Entergy Palisades in early June to everyone within the ten-mile radius, and it is also available on the MDCH website. The KI pills work to prevent radiation from affecting the thyroid gland in the event of an accident at a nuclear power plant. While the MDCH does not mention the Cook Nuclear Power Plant in its press release this week, those within ten miles of that plant in Bridgman are also urged to have a supply of KI on hand. The pills are free at participating pharmacies with the voucher.