SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.–The annual test of the community alert siren system for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station will be conducted next week.
The exercise scheduled for Wednesday morning involves Southern California Edison and the cities of Dana Point, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as Orange County, the California Department of Parks and Recreation and Marine Corps base at Camp Pendleton.
Between 10 a.m. and noon, 52 sirens located in the communities around the seaside nuclear plant will be activated several times, for about three minutes each time. The sirens sound a continuous steady tone, distinguishing them from those used by fire and police departments.
“Protecting the health and safety of workers and the public is our highest responsibility,” said SCE Chief Nuclear Officer Joe Sheppard. “In a real emergency, the siren system would alert residents to turn on their radio or TV for emergency response information from their community leaders. Other sources of emergency information include city websites and our community website, www.SONGScommunity.com.”
Fliers and other educational materials explaining the test have been distributed to residents, businesses and schools in the area.
Before and during the siren test, broadcasts on Orange County’s primary Emergency Alert System radio station, KWVE 107.9, will inform the public of the test.
The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station generates about 2,200 megawatts of electricity, enough power to serve 1.4 million average homes at a point in time.
