Oyster Creek To Test Emergency Sirens June 5

A three-minute full volume siren will be activated within Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station’s emergency planning zone at 10 a.m., and again for a few seconds at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5.

The 42-siren system will go off within a 10-mile radius of the nuclear plant and it will sound for three minutes each as a part of Exelon’s comprehensive emergency preparedness program. This test is not a signal to evacuate.

Although Oyster Creek conducts electronic testing of its sirens on a weekly basis, this is an annual test, issued by Exelon Corporation in cooperation with Ocean County and the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management.

These sirens are just one method of notification of emergencies. County emergency management authorities may use the sirens to warn the area of threatening events including fires, floods, tornadoes, hazardous material releases, and plant-related events.

In the case of an actual emergency, all residents should tune to one of the county Emergency Alert System radio or television stations. If a siren fails to activate, local police and firefighters would alert residents using mobile public address systems or door-to-door notifications.

Oyster Creek is the oldest nuclear plant in the United States, beginning commercial operations on Dec. 23, 1969. The plant employs nearly 700 workers and provides enough electricity for 600,000 New Jersey homes.