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Cook Plant Readies Annual Siren Test Series Over Next Three Weeks

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Over the next three weeks each and every one of the 70 early warning sirens near the Cook Nuclear Plant at Bridgman will be tested in Indiana Michigan Power’s annual due diligence to assure that each of the units is operating optimally.

Keep in mind…it’s only a test.

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) will conduct separate tests on each of the 70 early warning sirens near the Cook Nuclear Plant during the weeks of September 14th, September 21st and September 28th, 2020. Each of the sirens is within a 10-mile radius of the plant and would be activated by the Berrien County Emergency Management Department to alert the public to emergency situations. Such situations could include severe weather, industrial or transportation chemical spills or activation of the Cook Nuclear Plant emergency plan.

Unlike the annual spring test where all sirens run simultaneously, this testing involves sounding each siren individually three to four times for about 30 seconds to obtain readings and make adjustments to ensure proper coverage and reliability. Annual preventive maintenance and battery checks will also be performed during the process.

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Should real-life severe weather conditions prevail during the testing period, the testing will be suspended to avoid confusion with an actual emergency. In the event of an actual emergency, early warning sirens are all sounded continuously for three minutes.

Testing is expected to take place in various locations Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm during the three-week testing period.

If you have questions or would like a copy of the emergency information calendar, visit http://www.cookinfo.com, email cookinfo@aep.com or visit the Cook Facebook page at http://www.Facebook.com/CookNuclear. Also, for your protection, you are asked to please report non-working sirens right away. If you note a problem with a siren near your home, call the Berrien County Emergency Management Office at 269-983-7111 x4915.

The Cook Nuclear Plant is owned and operated by Indiana Michigan Power, headquartered in Fort Wayne. At full capacity, the 1,084-net MW Unit 1 and 1,194-net MW Unit 2 combined produce enough electricity for more than one and one half million average homes.