SENECA – The 65 sirens within 10 miles of Oconee Nuclear Station will be tested as part of new software installations.

Sirens are expected to sound for three minutes only, but may be sounded several times as testing progresses. Testing is expected to begin at 11:50 a.m. on Aug. 17 in Oconee County and at 11:50 a.m. on Aug. 24 in Pickens County.

These siren tests are in addition to the quarterly scheduled siren tests that occur throughout the year. Siren testing is performed in cooperation with emergency officials in Oconee and Pickens counties, who are responsible for sounding the sirens.

Hearing a siren does not mean to evacuate. In an emergency, sirens are sounded as a signal for residents to tune to a local radio or TV station that would carry an emergency alerting message.

County officials use these stations to provide information to the public. If sirens are heard and residents are unsure if it is a test or an emergency, they should tune to their local radio or TV station.

Staff Report