SOUTH COUNTY : Siren Test at Nuclear Station Spurs Calls

Despite an extensive publicity campaign that included mailings to households and businesses, a siren test at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station touched off concern among dozens of residents in South County Wednesday.

Sheriff’s Lt. Dick Olson said his department received about 40 calls between 10 and 10:30 a.m., when Southern California Edison sounded 52 sirens within a 10-mile radius of the plant. The alarm was heard in San Onofre State Park, Camp Pendleton, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and unincorporated areas.

“We always get calls,” Olson said. “Every time they do that we get calls.”

Under federal law, SCE is required to conduct annual tests to make sure the sirens, which would sound in the event of an emergency at the nuclear station, are functioning properly.

In preparation for Wednesday’s test, company officials distributed 100,000 notices to nearby residents, businesses, the media and city officials, said Sherry Folsom, an Edison spokeswoman.

Included were posters, postcards mailed to homes and businesses, and notices left on tables in restaurants, hotels and even on hospital patients’ meal trays.

In addition, elementary school teachers received kits for students that included puzzles and games that explained the importance of the test.

“No matter how hard we try, there are always a few people who don’t get the word,” Folsom said. “So they heard the sirens and they want to know what they’re supposed to do.”

Edison officials received 57 calls Wednesday, Folsom said, mostly from people who wanted to make sure the alarm was a test.