More than a dozen area law enforcement agencies and about 50 officers gathered at Camp Thunderbird to coordinate and demonstrate an emergency response plan for the lake. The evacuation, the first of its kind on Lake Wylie, was mandated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to simulate a catastrophic incident at Catawba Nuclear Station.

"The purpose of today was twofold," said Cotton Howell, York County emergency management director. "One was to meet the federal regulations on our ability to clear the lake, but the first thing is to have our plan, put it in action, see it and make sure it will work. That's more important than meeting regulations."

York County officers were joined by those from Mecklenburg and Gaston counties in North Carolina, as well as representatives from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Officers, accompanied by evaluators from FEMA, cleared Lake Wylie by posting notices of the drill at boat ramps. They also informed boaters already on the water and demonstrated how they would transport residents along the shoreline, if needed.

"We simulated so we didn't scare the general public," said officer Chris DeCarlo of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

Emergency operations officers Mike Channell and Leslie Brakefield traveled the lake's lower shoreline with the York County Emergency Management boat.

Howell's goal of clearing the lake -- along with portions of the Catawba River on both ends -- in 45 minutes proved sufficient. Nothing about the drill caused concern for emergency planners, he said.

"We've seen that we can do it with the people we have," Howell said.

One FEMA evaluator, who said he could not be named for security reasons, said emergency responders surrounding nuclear stations appear to have proper plans in place.

He said they evaluated the coverage area, equipment and knowledge of unsafe radiation levels.

"They do quite well," the evaluator said. "These folks are trained professionals."

After the drill, evaluators gathered to compare notes, though FEMA has 120 days from July 30 to issue its report.

If anything is found to be lacking, investigators could inform the agencies conducting the drill prior to the final report and officers could "re-demonstrate" the correct process, said Tommy Almond, emergency management administrator for Gaston County.

"Part of doing a drill like this is to cover any gaps that you might have," he said. "From what we've seen, we've got those gaps covered."

The drill on Lake Wylie lasted only one day, though inspections of schools, fire stations and other facilities within a few miles of Catawba Nuclear Station will take place through this week. The final event, a 50-mile radius from nuclear station drill, takes place July 30.

"This is a small piece of a much larger emergency plan," Howell said.