Nuclear plant sirens to be tested this afternoon
SEABROOK — At 12:30 p.m. today, residents from Portsmouth, N.H., to Newbury and possibly beyond will hear a screeching wail coming from the Seabrook Station emergency alarms.
Local officials are hoping residents have been warned and will not flood 911 dispatchers with calls.
The second annual drill, held by New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, will have all 121 sirens go off to familiarize residents with the sound and the emergency evacuation plan.
A test last year went off without any problems, with the only complaints coming from a few residents saying the sirens weren't loud enough.
Officials have said two different tones will be heard, lasting three to five minutes.
The now annual drills are done as a way to acquaint residents with the sound of the emergency sirens. The sirens would go off in case of emergency at Seabrook power plant, signaling residents should tune into radio and television for evacuation information.
Residents don't need to do anything when the sirens go off tomorrow.
There are 94 sirens in New Hampshire and 27 in Massachusetts.
