New Siren System Officially Online Today
Entergy would like to thank the local counties, the State of New York and you the public for your support during the installation of the new siren alert notification system. Indian Point is the first in the nation to use this state of the art technology and we believe it is one of the finest alerting systems in the country.
The system meets, and in some areas exceeds, the new requirements set forth by our federal regulators. As a result, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved the system for operation. Entergy and the counties will place the system in service on Wednesday, August 27 at 12 noon and the new system will be the primary system to notify residents in the Indian Point Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) of an event at the plant.
This new siren alert notification system provides emergency management officials with a tool for swiftly notifying the public. As part of this system upgrade, we have:
- Installed multi-directional sirens — providing a loud, 360° wall of sound;
- Installed two ways of activating the system (by radio and cellular signal), so if one signal is blocked, another will activate the sirens;
- Increased the number of sirens, which improves sound coverage in the EPZ;
- Most importantly, we added a back-up power system, so in case of a power loss in the region, emergency personnel can still count on power to the sirens.
As part of this transition, we also encourage you to personally register for emergency event alerting and notification via New York State's new, advanced emergency information system called NY-Alert (http://www.nyalert.gov). NY-Alert will deliver warnings and emergency information via the web, cell phone, email and other technologies, which places vital information at your fingertips when you need it most.
Again, we thank you for your support during this process.
August 14, 2008
Radios Given to Bolster Indian Point Siren SystemBy NATE SCHWEBER - NYTimes
TARRYTOWN
WHITE radios, about the size of a loaf of bread, will be offered to about 2,500 homes to augment a long-delayed siren system that officials are seeking to win approval for and make fully operational around the Indian Point Energy Center, officials have said.
The new $30 million siren system requires approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and was not ready by an Aug. 14 deadline. Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc., the company that runs Indian Point, has paid almost $800,000 for missing deadlines and may have to pay more.
"It's been a very long process," Anthony W. Sutton, commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services, said after a meeting on Aug. 8. "But we're going to have an excellent siren system."
At a public meeting attended by a handful of Westchester residents, officials from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Westchester County and Entergy explained the system of 172 sirens.
August 14, 2008
Indian Point Emergency Notification System Performs Well
Today's successful test of Indian Point's new emergency notification system is the culmination of years of hard work on the part of Entergy, the four counties, New York State and numerous federal agencies. The purpose of our ongoing testing program is basically twofold: To familiarize the public with the different and somewhat louder tone of the new sirens and to afford us the opportunity to refine and improve the system.
This new equipment represents a significant technological leap forward. Which is why we believe we now have one of the best – if not THE best – emergency notification system in the country and, as we await final approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), we look forward to putting the new system into operation.
Thank you for your continuing patience.
August 12, 2008
Entergy Nuclear Notifies NRC;
Indian Point Siren System Awaiting Federal Approval
Buchanan, N.Y. — In a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission today, Entergy Nuclear confirmed it is ready to place Indian Point Energy Center's new Siren Alert Notification System in service but is waiting on Federal Emergency Management Agency approval of the new system. The current system remains operable and available to alert residents in the Emergency Planning Zone surrounding Indian Point.
"Entergy remains committed and ready to place the new siren system in place within 60 hours after receiving approval from FEMA," stated Entergy Nuclear Vice President Fred Dacimo. "This system is the culmination of years of hard work and cooperation between Entergy, the four counties surrounding Indian Point, New York State, FEMA and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This state-of-the-art system will provide better alerting for the residents in the four counties. We are ready to go."
In a milestone schedule to the NRC, Entergy had committed to placing the new system in service by Aug. 14, eight days after approval of the system. Entergy was notified earlier today, however, that FEMA will need additional time to complete its review.
The new siren system features 172 sirens, 16 more than the current operating system, and covers an additional 60 square miles. Full diagnostic capabilities in the new system will ensure emergency planners are immediately notified of any system abnormalities. The new siren system also has back up power supplies and can be sounded using multiple pathways.
Thursday's siren sounding will continue as scheduled to familiarize residents with the sound of the new siren in preparation for putting the new siren system in service. The four-minute, full volume sounding will begin at 3:30 p.m. for all 172 sirens in the new siren system.
Indian Point Energy Center in Buchanan, N.Y. is home to two pressurized water nuclear reactors that generate 2140 megawatts for customers in Westchester County and New York City.
Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States.