Residents in parts of South Carolina can expect to hear warning sirens soon, but officials say there is no need to worry. The upcoming activity is only a routine safety check.
Santee Cooper to Test Warning Sirens
Santee Cooper will conduct a test of its emergency warning sirens on March 30 at 11 a.m. The test will take place across Berkeley, Clarendon, and Williamsburg counties.
A total of 15 sirens located around the Santee Dam flood plain will be activated as part of this exercise.
What Residents Will Hear
During the test, each siren will go off in a specific pattern. It will begin with a loud wailing sound that lasts about one minute. After that, a prerecorded message will play, followed by a live announcement confirming that the test has ended.
Officials want residents to know that this is only a test and not an emergency situation.
Purpose of the Test
The main goal of this exercise is to make sure the warning system is working properly. Santee Cooper employees will carefully check:
- How long the sirens sound
- Whether the messages are clear and loud enough
- If both recorded and live announcements are working correctly
The entire testing process is expected to last only a few minutes.
Regular Safety Practice
Santee Cooper usually conducts these siren tests twice every year. These regular checks are important to ensure that the system will function properly during real emergencies.
The sirens are part of the larger Santee Dam system, which plays a key role in the region’s hydroelectric and navigation operations.
