North Anna to test early warning sirens

Sirens will wail warnings of imminent danger on Wednesday, but officials say it’s only a test.

State and local officials will sound the North Anna Power Station’s early warning siren system at approximately 11:10 a.m., setting off some 68 sirens located within a 10-mile radius of the nuclear power station. Warnings will resonate in Caroline, Hanover, Louisa and Spotsylvania counties.

The test will consist of a single three-minute tone. Officials run the test on the third Wednesday of February, May, August and November. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Dominion Virginia Power and the localities where the sirens are located participate in the quarterly tests.

If there is an actual emergency at the power station, the sirens would sound four separate three-minute blasts, each separated by a one-minute silent interval. Residents should then tune to local radio or television stations for information.

The next test of the North Anna siren system will be Aug. 19.