BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On the afternoon of Wednesday, April 23, employees at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala., will conduct a hostile action-based exercise in coordination with federal, state and local emergency officials that will be evaluated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

"We want to inform the community that this is only a drill and there is no cause for concern," said Cheryl Gayheart, Plant Farley site vice president. "Southern Nuclear's top priority is the safety and health of its employees and the public. We work closely with our state and local emergency response partners to ensure we are fully prepared to act quickly in the unlikely event of a nuclear or hostile incident at our site."

The NRC requires nuclear power plants to conduct a hostile action-based emergency exercise at least once every eight years. The primary objective of this emergency exercise is for a nuclear power plant to demonstrate its ability to protect the public, plant operations and employees through the coordination of onsite security and emergency response with offsite federal, state and local emergency responders and agencies.

During the hostile action-based exercise, numerous law enforcement and emergency responders may be onsite and around the community. Emergency response vehicles may be observed entering and exiting the facility. Law enforcement may also utilize helicopters to support the response effort.

If you have questions regarding this emergency exercise, you may contact 1-800-985-6319.

About Southern Nuclear: 
Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is one of the nation's leading nuclear energy facility operators. Producing safe, reliable and environmentally friendly nuclear energy, Southern Nuclear operates a total of six units for Alabama Power and Georgia Power at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala.; the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga., and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga. Southern Nuclear is the licensee of two new nuclear units currently under construction at Plant Vogtle, which will be the first nuclear units constructed in the United States in more than 30 years. Southern Nuclear employs more than 3,500 skilled and dedicated professionals who are committed each day to nuclear and personal safety and the health and safety of the public. The company's headquarters is based in Birmingham, Ala. Twitter: @SouthernNuclear. Facebook: facebook.com/southernnuclear.

About Southern Company: 
With 4.4 million customers and more than 43,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast through its subsidiaries. A leading U.S. producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for energy innovation, excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company and its subsidiaries are leading the nation's nuclear renaissance through the construction of the first new nuclear units to be built in a generation of Americans and are demonstrating their commitment to energy innovation through the development of a state-of-the-art coal gasification plant. Southern Company has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer and listed by DiversityInc as a top company for Blacks. The company received the 2012 Edison Award from the Edison Electric Institute for its leadership in new nuclear development, was named Electric Light & Power magazine's Utility of the Year for 2012 and is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

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SOURCE Southern Company