CP&L Conducts Annual Test of 81 Alert Notification Sirens

Sirens blared sporadically at the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant on Monday, although nearby residents did not have to "duck and cover" like in a true emergency.

Carolina Power & Light Co. conducted an annual check of alert notification sirens at its Wake County power plant, which sounded two times between 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for three minutes each.

"We are constantly testing our sirens," said Jeanne Bonds, CP&L's site communications manager. "But a couple of times a year we'll do a full-volume test."

CP&L sounds some sirens at low volume once a month but annually tests all of its 81 sirens simultaneously, Bonds said.

But Jim Warren of N.C. Waste Awareness and Reduction Network questioned whether the test instilled confidence among the 31,000 residents who live within a 10-mile radius of the plant.

"The very fact that (CP&L officials) do (the test) once a year shows the potential for a very dangerous accident," he said. "People that live in the zone are constantly reminded of the dangers they're near."

A month ago, the company notified residents living near the plant that it would be conducting the siren tests Monday, Bonds said.

CP&L representatives contacted news organizations to warn people of the noise and also sent out a newsletter to residents, Bonds said. With such forewarning, CP&L officials said they hoped the siren test would cause no alarm among people living nearby the plant.

"This is just a regular annual check to see if all the sirens are working," Bonds said. "Our emergency plan is a requirement from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission."

Because siren tests affect areas outside the plant, county and state officials, not CP&L, have authority in deciding to hold a full-volume test, Bonds said. Any emergency management tests affecting only the plant are at CP&L officials' discretion.

But Warren questioned the test's effectiveness. He said the press release about the testing stated it would be postponed in the event of severe weather.

Warren said if the plant could not set off all sirens in inclement weather, then a power outage caused by a potential tornado could prevent the sirens from warning residents.

Warren explained that problems have occurred in the past with the alarms, citing examples of glitches in the system.

He emphasized that malfunctioning sirens could result in serious consequences for surrounding areas.

"There would be far more nuclear material released than at Chernobyl."

The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu.