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Sometime in late spring or early summer the KI pills may be made available for others who live in the secondary zone — or within 80 km of Fermi which is essentially all of Essex County.

Ontario’s health ministry agreed to pay the $370,000 cost for the pills and distribution program.

Town officials last year complained after Amherstburg had largely been left out of the Ontario government’s nuclear safety and emergency planning since Fermi II is located across the border.

Mayor Aldo DiCarlo called the pills “an important first step” by the government to help better prepare the town in the event of a nuclear reactor incident.

“This adds another level of comfort in our emergency preparedness,” he said. “This is one more step on how we get through any incident.”

Amherstburg Fire Chief Bruce Montone will meet next Wednesday with officials from Fermi II, the government’s emergency management team, Michigan State police and other nuclear facilities in Ontario to further advance nuclear safety plans for the town.

“This is a fabulous first step, but next week we will roll up our sleeves and compare what they do (elsewhere) to what we do, so that our emergency plan is consistent,” Montone said.

The health unit will keep additional KI pills in storage for up to another 6,000 households.

“(An incident) could happen at any time, so the best way to respond is to be prepared,” said Dr. Wajid Ahmed, acting medical officer of health.

Pill requirements are two for adults and one for children. They have few side effects — most likely upset stomachs — and are to be stored at room temperature. They remain good for 10 years.

The southern half of Essex County from roughly the towns of LaSalle and Essex and to the south are also within the secondary zone for the Davis Bessie nuclear reactor in Ohio.

For further information about the KI pills, call the health unit at 519-258-2146 ext. 4445.

dbattagello@postmedia.com

Photo by Nick Brancaccio / Windsor Star

Photo by Jason Kryk / Windsor Star

Photo by Nick Brancaccio / Windsor Star