RICHLAND, Wash.-Emergency sirens and alert systems will be tested in Benton and Franklin Counties on Thursday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon.
The testing includes sirens along the Columbia and Yakima Rivers in Benton and Franklin Counties and within about 10 miles of the Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant, according to an Energy Northwest press release on the tests.
The testing will be conducted by Energy Northwest with the Department of Energy, emergency response officials from Benton County and Franklin County Emergency Management.
Sirens may be heard along the Columbia River between the Vernita Bridge and Leslie Groves Park in north Richland and at the Horn Rapids Off-Road Vehicle Park, as well as at Columbia Generating Station and nearby areas, according to Energy Northwest.
The sirens will reportedly be tested multiple times with announcements confirming that it is only a test before and after each sounding.
The Emergency Alert System, which would be activated by county officials in an actual emergency, will also be tested on October 17.
CodeRED, an emergency telephone notification system will also be tested on the morning of October 19 within a 10-mile radius of the Columbia Generating Station.
Benton and Franklin County residents can sign up for CodeRed notifications that allow them to be notified personally in the event of an actual emergency.