'Low probability' they'll be needed for nuclear incident
Mar 24, 2008 - 04:00 PM
By Keith Gilligan
PICKERING -- Public alerting sirens could be erected any day now.
Given the delays in getting them put up in the past, however, further delays are possible, said Ivan Ciuciura, Durham Region's director of emergency management.
The first of four sirens were to be installed this week, he said to the Pickering nuclear Community Advisory Council on Tuesday. "I cross my fingers it will get up this week."
The sirens are being installed in Pickering and Clarington, and would be used to alert people to an emergency at the nuclear stations.
Fourteen sirens have been installed in Clarington, but opposition to the original number of 27 sirens in Pickering has delayed the project. Residents and City officials protested, saying that was too many for a three-kilometre radius around the plant.
A consultant hired by the City found only four were needed to cover the three kilometres.
All the sirens have been put up in Clarington, the base for three of the sirens have been installed in Pickering while one location hasn't been resolved.
The alerting system also includes 'tone alert radios,' which are being distributed in Clarington. The units aren't being distributed in Pickering until the siren issue is resolved, Mr. Ciuciura said.
"Every home and business within three kilometres will get one. The intent is to offer every home and business one. It's up to them if they want it," he added.
There's "a low probability an accident will occur that will affect people off-site," he noted, but the provincial emergency plan requires the sirens.
Alerting would have to cover a three-kilometre zone around the plant, and must be able to reach everyone, both indoors and outdoors, in that area within 15 minutes.
The current alerting system is an automatic phone dialing for a 10-kilometre radius, Mr. Ciuciura said.
However, it's "too slow," can't reach people who are outside and calls could be blocked in a power outage.
Part of the public-alerting system is public education, he said.
The slogan Go, Listen, Follow is being used in the education campaign, he added. "Go indoors, listen to local radio or TV, follow the direction on what to do."
While the sirens are being erected primarily for a nuclear emergency, he said they could be used for other instances, such as the Mississauga train derailment.
Steps that still need to be done include completing the installation, testing them, and more public education.
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