In Lawrence County emergency officials and volunteers took part in an exercise to test their response should a nuclear accident take place in Pennsylvania.
 
It is a scenario where they hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
 
Local Fire Departments and the Lawrence County Department of Public Safety took part in a preparedness exercise at Mohawk High School. 
 
The mock scenario they must respond to is a general accident at the Shipping Port Nuclear Power Plant in Beaver County.
 
Those who were exposed would pass through this detector. 
 
"Every two years we are evaluated by FEMA to make sure we can receive people being evacuated from Beaver County. They will come to this location, walk through a portal monitor to make sure they have not received any contamination from the power plant," said Chad Strobel, Public Safety Director for Lawrence County. 
 
 If people have not been exposed to radiation they are sent over to the American Red Cross to register and will be released to go spend time with family or friends.
 
If they don't have a place to stay the Red Cross will provide food, drinks, and shelter. 
 
"We are committed to seeing them through to the end until they are placed back in housing, Nancy Grieco American Red Cross SW Beaver Chapter explained.
 
Decontamination will take place for those exposed to the showers at the school.
 
IF they need further treatment they will be sent to UPMC Jameson Hospital where staff has specific training.
 
The Pennsylvania EMA and the FEMA monitored the exercise.
 
"Whether it be a structure fire or we are just dealing with local agencies, or whether it be something bigger than that. Today there are federal, state, and local agencies that are going to evaluate this exercise. It's crucial for us to be ready in times of disaster. That's what the public expects of us and that's what we're going to do," said Frank Jannetti, Deputy Fire Chief of North Beaver Township.
 
Exercises will also be held in Butler, Washington Counties, and Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh.