From the Nipomo Mesa to Cayucos, sirens across San Luis Obispo County rang out twice on Saturday for the county's annual full-scale emergency siren test. If those sirens go off during a real emergency, do you know what to do?
130 sirens sounded off simultaneously in San Luis Obispo County Saturday afternoon for an annual siren test.
“It’s like nothing you’ve ever heard before," said Josie Brewer, an Arroyo Grande resident.
The sound of more than a hundred sirens might be a little jarring at first, but for some residents in SLO County, they're used to it.
Heeva Asefvaziri is a San Luis Obispo resident who grew up in the area.
“I don't remember it, like happening all the time or it being a real big memory," Asefvaziri said. "But I grew up here, so as long as they've been doing it [I've heard it] for the last 35 years or so.”
The sirens are one of the requirements that come with having a nuclear power plant in the area. They’re placed in the Emergency Planning Zone which includes most of the county.
But the sirens aren’t just used if something happens with Diablo Canyon; they’re utilized as an early warning system for any major emergency, which is why the County’s office of emergency services and PG&E collaborated on the test.
Brewer said she’s prepared if they go off during a real emergency.
“I have a to-go bag packed," Brewer said. "I kind of just kind of listen to the news to see or the radio to see what's happening.”
This is the first time the alarm came from the new Templeton communications center, and according to the County Office of Emergency Services, Saturday's test was a success. If these were to go off in a real emergency, the OES says residents should tune into the radio or TV for emergency instructions.
The county always tests the sirens on the fourth Saturday in August. Officials say late summer weather makes it harder for sound to travel.
“We should be aware of what to do when there are situations or if there ever are situations that we need to be reacting and know what to do," Asefvaziri said. "So it's nice to see that they do go through the paces of testing.”
To stay up to date and learn more about the siren system, visit Ready SLO's website.
