Oak Ridge, Tenn. – On Wednesday, Nov. 16, Y-12 Emergency Management personnel will perform maintenance of an emergency warning siren located on Quincy Avenue in Oak Ridge. During the maintenance, abbreviated soundings will be performed to ensure operability once repairs are completed. The Quincy Avenue warning siren is located approximately one block west of Lafayette Drive and north of State Highway 62.
The warning sirens are intended to alert the public in the unlikely event of an emergency involving a potential hazardous material release at Y-12. The sirens are tested on a regular basis. In September, Y-12 Emergency Management personnel completed testing of warning sirens located in a two-mile radius of the Y-12 National Security Complex. The problems with the Quincy Avenue siren were identified during the September test.
When maintenance is completed, the Quincy Avenue warning siren will be tested using abbreviated soundings--for a few seconds--that will be audible to people located near the siren. There will not be a full sounding of this siren. Residents should disregard the abbreviated soundings during the maintenance period and should not take protective actions. The maintenance and testing will be completed by Nov. 16 and will not involve any other warning sirens in the Oak Ridge area.
When activated during an actual emergency a steady wailing sound will occur for three to five minutes. Upon hearing the full sounding of the warning sirens, people should immediately go indoors or into a vehicle and tune to a local radio or television Emergency Alert System (EAS) station for specific instructions. Also, the sirens are tested on the first Wednesday of each month between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
More information regarding the Y-12 warning sirens and what to do in the event of an emergency is located at http://www.y12.doe.gov/security/emergency-public-information.