All Hazard Alert Broadcast System warning sirens will sound in communities along the North Olympic Peninsula coast at noon Monday.
Sirens will sound at three sites in Port Townsend — the Port Townsend marina, Point Hudson and Fort Worden — and in LaPush, Neah Bay, Clallam Bay, Lower Elwha, West Port Angeles, Dungeness and Diamond Point.
The sirens are intended to be heard by people near the siren that are outside or on the beach. They are not intended for those indoors, but they may hear them as well.
In an actual emergency, those indoors should check for messages from the Emergency Broadcast System on their radios or televisions if possible.
The sirens will be followed by a voice message declaring “The following is a test of the siren warning system.
“It is only a test. This is a test of the siren warning system.
“If this had been a real emergency you should tune in your local radio station or listen to this system for further instructions. This was only a test.”
These sound tests are run to verify the system’s capabilities to send timely warning notification to the state’s coastal communities.
The Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management urges citizens to purchase a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio for use in emergencies.
The department will program the radio for free.
For more information, phone the department at 360-385-9368.
Clallam County would like residents who hear the test to call in information regarding the sirens, the voice announcement and where they were when they heard the test siren.
Phone 360-417-2525 on Monday and Tuesday to leave information.
Washington State Emergency Management and NOAA/National Weather Services will be presenting several “Tsunami Preparedness and the NOAA All Hazard Alert Broadcast Radio” workshops at several coastal communities in Clallam County during the week of April 19, 20 and 21.
Check with Clallam County Emergency Management for locations and times.
Tsunami background information is available at www.clallam.net/emergencymgmt/html/links.htm.
