Monroe County Executive Adam Bello has announced the distribution of free potassium iodide pills to residents who live within 10 miles of the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant.

Potassium iodide helps protect the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine that could be released if the plant had an accident. The plant is located in the town of Ontario in Wayne County — not far from the Monroe County line.

County officials say residents are encouraged to keep at least one dose of the iodide pills for each family member on hand. Residents who still have their pills from the last time the county gave them out in 2014 should throw them out.

The county says any incident requiring the pills would be extremely rare and one has never happened locally.

You can pick up your pills at Wegmans locations on Penfield Road, Holt Road, and Empire Boulevard.

For more information about KI visit www.monroecounty.gov/safety-oep.phpor call the Monroe County Office of Emergency Management at 585-753-3810.