No public action required during 3-5 minute test

The new emergency sirens that serve the communities within a 10-mile radius of the PPL Susquehanna nuclear power plant near Berwick will be tested on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m. The annual test will last between three and five minutes; no public action is required.

“This test ensures that the sirens are fully operational and can perform as designed to alert the community in the event of any type of emergency,” said Joe Scopelliti, Susquehanna’s community relations manager.

Only one full-scale siren test is scheduled this year and in future years now that the new system is in service.

The siren system was upgraded last year as part of Susquehanna’s commitment to the health and safety of plant neighbors.

“It’s a vital part of the area’s emergency management system and a commitment to public safety that we’re pleased to make,” Scopelliti said. “Now that we are back on a regular schedule of once-a-year full-scale siren tests, we appreciate the patience and understanding of our plant neighbors during the Aug. 20 test.”

After the sirens sound for three to five minutes, local Emergency Alert System radio and television stations will carry a message about the test.

The Susquehanna plant, located in Luzerne County about seven miles north of Berwick, is owned jointly by PPL Susquehanna LLC and Allegheny Electric Cooperative Inc. and is operated by PPL Susquehanna.

PPL Susquehanna is one of PPL Corporation’s generating facilities. Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) controls or owns more than 12,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to about 4 million customers in Pennsylvania and the United Kingdom.