'Hurricane Irene: two nuclear power plants shut down'

from the telegraph.....

"CENG reported Unit 1 at its Calvert Cliff, Maryland refinery was shut automatically after a transformer was hit by some aluminum siding.

CENG said the facility is safe, with no impact on employees at the plant or threat to the surrounding area.

The company declared an 'Unusual Event' - the lowest of four emergency classifications by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

"The Unit 1 reactor at CENG's Calvert Cliffs, Maryland facility automatically went off-line,'' a CENG spokesman said.

"It appears as if due to heavy gusts of winds caused by Hurricane Irene, a large piece of aluminum siding dislodged from a building. The siding came in contact with our main transformer. The facility is safe''.........READ MORE