cookplanttest

Cook Plant Sirens Scheduled to Run Longer This Saturday

Mother Nature and Old Man Winter may have conspired to stick around a bit longer than many among us would like, but if you hear an extended Cook Plant Siren this Saturday it’s highly unlikely to be weather related. Reality is that the regularly-scheduled first Saturday of the month siren test of the Cook Emergency Preparedness team, which typically lasts for about one minute, will go on for three minutes this Saturday. It’s a regular occurrence each year in the month of April.

Kevin Simpson from the Cook Emergency Preparedness Department says, “People are used to hearing the sirens for only about one minute on the first Saturday of the month. However, each April, we test the sirens for a full three minutes to confirm they will work for a longer period. We try to spread the word so no one gets unnecessarily concerned.”

The 70 omni-directional electronic sirens are an important part of Berrien County’s alert and notification system within the 10-mile radius Emergency Planning Zone of the plant in Bridgman. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Emergency 911 System does occasionally get calls during Cook’s regular siren testing. This additional notification of the longer April test is being made to minimize those distractions.

Sirens and other basic emergency information can be found in the emergency information calendars that are produced by the Cook Plant and mailed annually to residents and businesses in Berrien County.

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Cook Communications Manager Bill Schalk admits, “People like and use our calendar because of the great photos of local scenery, but the real purpose is to keep important emergency information available.” He adds, “The April test is always a good reminder to take time to review that information and to share it with folks who may not be familiar with these regular tests.”

The regular monthly tests last about one minute. In the event of a real emergency, the sirens would sound for three to five minutes and residents should tune to local radio or television stations for additional information.

If you have questions or would like additional emergency information calendars, you can visit online at www.cookinfo.com, or you can call 800-548-2555, or email cookinfo@aep.com or even visit their Facebook page www.Facebook.com/CookNuclear.

Also, for your protection, report non-working sirens right away. If you note a problem with a siren near your home, call the Berrien County Emergency Management Office at 269-983-7111 x4915.

The Cook Nuclear Plant is owned and operated by Indiana Michigan Power, headquartered in Fort Wayne, and at full capacity, the 1,084-net MW Unit 1 and 1,194-net MW Unit 2 combined produce enough electricity for more than one and one half million average homes.

Remember…on Saturday, it’s only a test.