A full sounding test of the siren system for the Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations will be performed at approximately 10:45 AM, Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑹𝑬 𝑰𝑺 𝑵𝑶 𝑬𝑴𝑬𝑹𝑮𝑬𝑵𝑪𝒀 𝑨𝑻 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑷𝑳𝑨𝑵𝑻 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑵𝑶 𝑨𝑪𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺 𝑩𝒀 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑷𝑼𝑩𝑳𝑰𝑪 𝑨𝑹𝑬 𝑹𝑬𝑸𝑼𝑰𝑹𝑬𝑫.
1. How often are tests conducted?
Full sounding tests are conducted quarterly (January, April, July, and October) on the first Tuesday of each calendar quarter. Silent tests are performed twice a month.
Federal Regulations relating to the operation of nuclear power plants requires routine testing of this system to verify its operability.
The States provide support for the full sounding tests with coordination of Emergency Alert System (EAS) messaging and monitoring of Public Inquiry telephones.
2. What is the function of the sirens?
The sirens are part of the Alert and Notification System (ANS) for the Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations located in Lower Alloways Creek. There are 35 sirens in New Jersey and 37 sirens in Delaware.
In the event of an emergency, the sirens provide a warning signal to the public at risk, indicating the need to seek additional information from Emergency Alert System messages.
3. Additional Information
Additional information, including the yearly siren testing schedule is outlined in the PSEG Emergency Plan Information Calendar that is provided to all residents in the 10-mile emergency planning zones (EPZ).
Frightened Alloways Creek Resident Asks: “What Happens If Nuclear Disaster Occurs When Siren Is In Testing Mode?!”
Upon learning that the Salem and Hope Creek nuclear generating stations will be conducting a full sounding test of their emergency siren systems at approximatey 10:45 AM Tuesday morning, Lower Alloways Creek Resident, Bob Bombgarten, told reporters on Sunday that he is extremely frightened and that he plans to evacuate both himself and his family from the area until the siren test is finished and the all-clear sign is given for them to return back home.
“What happens if something goes wrong with the nuclear reactor at the precise moment that the siren test is being conducted?” he asked the press pool who arrived at his home on Sunday to report on his fears and trepidations. “How will I know if the reactor is leaking or whether the terrorists have bombed the site, if the emergency siren – that is blaring at THAT precise moment in time – is in test mode?”
“I’m sorry,” he told the press pool, “please send all of my Alloways Creek neighbors my sincerest apologies, but I’m not sticking around to find out the answers to my questions.”
“I’ll be heading out to safer pastures Tuesday morning,” he said. “I’m not staying HERE, that’s for sure! I’m taking my family to Florida for the day.”
“It goes without saying,” he said, “that, come Tuesday morning, and my neighbors will be complaining about how I fled the area and how I abandoned them in their time of need. However, no one is forcing these people to stay home! They can just easily do what I’m doing and get on a plane, and save themselves from a nuclear disaster. No one is forcing them to stay home like a bunch of sitting ducks!”
“Listen,” he reassured the press pool, “I promise you, and I promise all the residents of Lower Alloways Creek, that I’m only going away for ONE day! I’m serious! Just ONE day, that’s it! If everything ends peacefully, and Alloways Creek is still standing in one piece when the siren test concludes, then I’ll be back home bright and early Wednesday morning – with a giant cake for the entire press pool and for all the residents of Alloways Creek! So please tell my neighbors not to leave me any nasty messages on my voice mail, because, seriously, I’m only talking about a ONE DAY leave of absence, that’s it!”
“But sadly, I know what’s going to happen!” he concluded in exasperation. “I’ll be leaving town for just for ONE day – to save myself and my family from a nuclear holocaust – and the entire Alloways Creek will be complaining and cursing me out 24/7!”
“I don’t deserve THAT kind of treatment?!” he added, “I really don’t!”
The Administrator at Autumn Lake Healthcare at Memorial Bridge can handle any sort of disaster in the area. Just call him.