Orange County to give out Potassium Iodide pills Saturday in Highland Falls

Highland Falls - Orange County's Division of Emergency Management and Health Department will be distributing free Potassium Iodide pills to residents living within the 10-mile emergency planning zone of Indian Point Nuclear Power stations on Saturday, Sept. 18. This includes residents of Woodbury and Tuxedo, as well as those living in the towns of Highlands and Cornwall and the village of Highland Falls. The distribution will take place at the Highland Falls Middle School on Mountain Avenue in Highland Falls from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents must present a New York State driver's license or an equivalent form of photo identification. One tablet per family member will be distributed. According to a press release from County Executive Edward A. Diana's office, Potassium Iodide, commonly known as KI, is used to protect the thyroid gland in the event of a radiation release. It does not offer overall protection from exposure. "In the event of radiation release, residents will receive instructions from officials as to when they should ingest the pills," Diana says in the press release. "KI is not meant to be a substitute for taking shelter or evacuating the area should officials ask residents to do so." The issue of nuclear power is complex, complicated and controversial. For additional information about Potassium Iodide, the emergency evacuation plan for the Indian Point power plants and related issues, here are some Web sites: www.safesecurevital.org/emergency/index.html www.co.orange.ny.us/documentView.asp?docID=160 www.commondreams.org/news2004/0908-20.htm riverkeeper.org/campaign.php/indian_point www.safesecurevital.org/articles/article2.html www.ncsl.org/programs/health/anticancerpills.htm pro-resources.net/potassium-iodide-ki.html