Ginna Nuclear Power Plant to test emergency sirens. What to know - Democrat & Chronicle
Ginna Nuclear Power Plant to test emergency sirens. What to know
Ginna Nuclear Power Plant to test emergency sirens. What you should know
Kayla Canne
Public safety officials will test the emergency sirens at the R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant in Ontario on May 7.
The annual test will include 96 sirens, blaring for about four minutes between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., in a 10-mile radius near the nuclear power plant. Sirens will be heard as far as in parts of Webster, Penfield and areas near the Irondequoit Bay. Additional single-siren tests may be conducted throughout the day, according to the county.
Residents can ignore the sirens, as this is just a test of the plant's emergency notification system. In an actual emergency, residents who hear the sirens should tune into their radio or television for information. More information on what to do in the event of a nuclear emergency is available on the Monroe County website.
The R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant is located along the south shores of Lake Ontario, about 20 miles northeast of Rochester and 53 miles southwest of the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station.
— Kayla Canne reports on community justice and safety efforts for the Democrat and Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter @kaylacanne and @bykaylacanne on Instagram. Get in touch at kcanne@gannett.com.
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: nuclear
Nuclear energy provides almost 20 percent of the U.S. electricity supply. Advocates have called for an expanded role for nuclear as an emissions-free fuel source. But the economics of building new reactors are daunting. In addition, lingering safety concerns are an institutionalized part of the calculation of nuclear regulation, and highly radioactive nuclear waste remains a can that public officials have been inclined to kick down the road. The Energy Information Administration projects a sharp decline in nuclear power generation over the next decade, as new nuclear plants — two are planned — are more than offset by anticipated retirements of several operating reactors.