Clallam County emergency sirens will be tested at noon today as part of the monthly check of the eight “All Hazard Alert Broadcast Sirens” in Clallam County.
The test will include sirens at LaPush, Neah Bay, Clallam Bay, Lower Elwha, West Port Angeles, Dungeness and Diamond Point.
The sirens — using the Westminster Chimes — will be followed by a voice message saying that the alert is only a test.
Sound tests are run on the first Monday of each month to verify the system’s capabilities to send timely warnings to the coastal communities of Clallam, Jefferson, Pacific and Grays Harbor counties.
The sirens provide warnings to people during emergency conditions such as a tsunami or flood.
Tsunami flooding can occur within 30 minutes along the outer coast or a little longer in areas along the Straits of Juan de Fuca.
For distant tsunamis, where flooding may be expected in several hours, there is adequate time to issue official warnings.
Tsunami warning systems contain multiple notification sources, including the Emergency Alert System, television and local radio stations, and NOAA All Hazard Alert Broadcast desktop radios.
Clallam County requests that those who are outside and hear the siren test to report information on the chimes, the voice announcement and where the caller was when they heard the test siren.
