Hanford Site to Test Emergency Siren Thursday

An emergency siren will be tested on the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site on Thursday, July 18, 2013. 

The siren is located on the Hanford Site near the Columbia River, across from the Wahluke Hunting Area, and will be activated on Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.  People near this area may hear the siren sound, but no response is required.  Public address announcements stating "this is a test" will be made prior to and following the siren tone. 

In a real emergency, county officials would activate the Emergency Alert System to broadcast information to the public via local radio and television stations.  Sirens located along the Columbia River would be activated if it were necessary to warn people on the river.

Periodic emergency drills and siren tests are conducted at Hanford facilities as part of an ongoing program to test emergency equipment and train workers on emergency response procedures.

Visit the Hanford department of Energy website here.