Seabrook Residents Terrified by Steam Blasts at A-Plant

A test at the Seabrook nuclear power plant sent loud blasts of steam into the air, frightening residents and angering police who said they had no immediate answers for terrified callers.

“It was awful. It was wicked scary,” said Trisha Keefe, 16, of nearby Hampton. “I thought it blew up and we were going to die.”

Seabrook plant spokesmen said that the blasts Thursday night were part of a test involving the facility’s emergency water pumping equipment and that the steam released contained no radiation.

Rob Williams, a plant management spokesman, said police were not notified prior to the test because plant officials did not anticipate the steam release.