A warning for Central Coast residents on Saturday, August 22, you may hear a siren but it's no cause for alarm.
The County of San Luis Obispo Office of Emergency Services and Pacific Gas & Electric Company will conduct the annual Early Warning System Siren Test.
The sirens will be activated twice, once at 12 p.m. and at 12:30 p.m. to test both the primary and backup activation points.
During each of these siren tests 130 sirens will be activated.
The communities north of the Cuesta Grade and Cambria, do not have sirens and will not hear the test.
The sirens will sound for three minutes. Although the siren system is tested throughout the year, this annual test is the only time the sirens are simultaneously sounded.
The siren system can be used for any local emergency when there is a need to take action, such as evacuation or shelter in place.
During a real emergency, the sirens are an indication that the Emergency Alert System (EAS) has been activated, and you should tune into a local radio or TV station to receive emergency information and instructions.
The Early Warning System sirens cover from Cayucos in the north to the Nipomo Mesa in the south and east through the City of San Luis Obispo.
