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Tests scheduled for New Emergency Siren System
St. Mary’s County Emergency Management Agency and Constellation Energy Group's Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant will conduct multiple tests of the new emergency response sirens beginning Monday, October 13 through Thursday, October 23, 2003. Seventeen of those sirens are in St. Mary’s County.
On Monday, October 13, at noon, a 30-second to 1-minute sounding of all 72 sirens will take place to ensure the siren sound is at the right level and to check siren sensors. These sensors feed into a computerized monitoring system through which operators determine that sirens have sounded.
Following this baseline acoustical test, officials will test the entire system with a 3-minute sounding at noon, on October 16.
On Wednesday, October 22, 2003, specific sirens in St. Mary’s County will be tested to validate that the sound reaches expected areas.
Constellation Energy Group staff members have worked with county officials since 2001 to develop a more flexible system that would meet current public need. With the new, $2-million system, emergency management officials in Calvert, St. Mary’s or Dorchester counties will have the ability to activate one, a small group, or all of the new sirens. This capability assists officials in supporting each other in the unlikely event of an emergency at Calvert Cliffs and aids in notifying the public of other emergency conditions.
Also, the new sirens will be easier to test and monitor. Currently, officials must visit each individual siren to determine testing success. New technology will provide immediate electronic feedback to county emergency officials conducting tests.
Anyone who hears a full 3-minute siren at any time other than the scheduled full cycle test should tune in to a local Emergency Alert System radio station for emergency instructions. Those stations are: 1560 AM, 102.9 FM, 97.7 FM, 1690 AM, 98.3 FM, 104.1 FM, 1460 AM, 96.7 FM, 1240 AM, 106.3 FM.
For additional information, contact the St. Mary’s County Emergency Management Agency at 301-475-4197 or the St. Mary’s County Department of Emergency Communications non-emergency number at 301-475-8016 during normal business hours.
St. Mary’s County Emergency Management Agency and Constellation Energy Group's Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant will conduct multiple tests of the new emergency response sirens beginning Monday, October 13 through Thursday, October 23, 2003. Seventeen of those sirens are in St. Mary’s County.
On Monday, October 13, at noon, a 30-second to 1-minute sounding of all 72 sirens will take place to ensure the siren sound is at the right level and to check siren sensors. These sensors feed into a computerized monitoring system through which operators determine that sirens have sounded.
Following this baseline acoustical test, officials will test the entire system with a 3-minute sounding at noon, on October 16.
On Wednesday, October 22, 2003, specific sirens in St. Mary’s County will be tested to validate that the sound reaches expected areas.
Constellation Energy Group staff members have worked with county officials since 2001 to develop a more flexible system that would meet current public need. With the new, $2-million system, emergency management officials in Calvert, St. Mary’s or Dorchester counties will have the ability to activate one, a small group, or all of the new sirens. This capability assists officials in supporting each other in the unlikely event of an emergency at Calvert Cliffs and aids in notifying the public of other emergency conditions.
Also, the new sirens will be easier to test and monitor. Currently, officials must visit each individual siren to determine testing success. New technology will provide immediate electronic feedback to county emergency officials conducting tests.
Anyone who hears a full 3-minute siren at any time other than the scheduled full cycle test should tune in to a local Emergency Alert System radio station for emergency instructions. Those stations are: 1560 AM, 102.9 FM, 97.7 FM, 1690 AM, 98.3 FM, 104.1 FM, 1460 AM, 96.7 FM, 1240 AM, 106.3 FM.
For additional information, contact the St. Mary’s County Emergency Management Agency at 301-475-4197 or the St. Mary’s County Department of Emergency Communications non-emergency number at 301-475-8016 during normal business hours.
