Indian Point siren test shows 96 percent success rate
By GREG CLARYTHE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: August 11, 2007)
BUCHANAN -Indian Point's latest test of its new emergency alert system this morning found only six out of 155 sirens failing to work properly, a 96 percent success rate that the nuclear plant's officials said is important because it came using radio-trigger methods that hadn't worked in previous tests.
"This is a big step for us because the radio activation method has been a very difficult problem," said Jim Steets, spokesman for Indian Point owners Entergy Nuclear. "We had a breakthrough a few weeks ago - it was essentially a software issue, but this is the first full-volume test we've run to check it."
Across the portions of Westchester, Putnam, Rockland and Orange counties within the 10-mile emergency planning zone around the nuclear plant, the four-minute sirens soundings went off about 10 a.m., as expected.
One siren failed in Rockland, one in Orange and four in Westchester, though Steets said spotters that Entergy stationed at 140 of the 155 siren locations said only one of the failing sirens stayed silent.
Adam Stiebeling, Putnam's deputy commissioner of emergency services said the fact that all of his county's sirens worked properly showed promise for the company making its Aug. 24 deadline to have the system fully operational.
"We're on the road," Stiebeling said.
His counterpart in Rockland, Dan Greeley, confirmed the siren results, calling the test "a step in the right direction"
Another full-volume test is scheduled for Tuesday, about 11 a.m.

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POLL RESULT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY AT INDIAN POINT, DO YOU THINK THE WARNING SYSTEMS WILL ACTUALLY WORK? NO..................76% YES.................24% J WAYNE LEONARD C E O ENTERGY HEADQUATERS 639 LOYOLA AVE NEW ORLEANS , LA 70113 PHONE: 504-576-4000 FAX-504-576-4428 IF WESTCHESTER IS A BLACK TUXEDO, WHY IS INDIAN POINT A BROWN PAIR OF SHOES?
Posted by: ball on Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:40 pm

I've written the next article for Greg Clary, so that he can go to the shore this weekend, and maybe have a life. (I know the TJN editorial board wants story continuity maintained here). 13 DAYS TO THE BIG NUCLEAR WITCHING HOUR Gannett, White Plains, 8/12/2007 Yes, only 12 pregnant days remain until the ultimate siren test determines whether Nita Lowey gets another $130,000 to spend on useless think-tank studies, Whether Entergy turns out to be Cinderella, and ride away in the big Pumpkin Coach with Rudy Giuliani (the white prince) to the big "License-Extension Ball", or turns out to be a siren-less dufus, sent back home in a donkey-cart. Odds are on Entergy squeaking through it all,... in fact the betting line in Vegas is 8-5 on Entergy, with the point spread giving them between 2 and 5 failed sirens overall, which would give them a passing grade with FEMA, but probably not with the concerned, outraged, and passionate anti community of 65 people who have dominated our politics hereabouts for 7 years, and intend to keep things that way! Jim Steets, interviewed in the Entergy locker room this A.M., said "Our boys are fired up, all our scrimmages went great, and we have that grudge match feeling against Spano helping us dig way down inside and get it all....... Bring It On!!!" Andy Spano, interviewed by cell phone at a backroom poker game said: " Hack....hack.... Damn cigar smoke...... What did ya say??? Can't hear ya. I'll see that bet, and raise you $130,000 that you f*ck up again, Arkansas-boy!" We were not able to determine if Mr. Spano's remarks were pertinent to his poker game, to the siren controversy, (or to both). Meanwhile, as the witching hour approached, citizens noticed teams of men in white coats with clipboards, going from siren to siren at night in black SUV's with tinted windows, perhaps chanting the good luck incantations intended to make the ghost in each siren appear on cue, on the BIG DAY! Remember TJN, and News Channel 12 will be on hand, with an 11 camera setup (the largest Ch 12 ever mounted) to capture each squeaky wail (or the embarrassing silence) on the BIG WITCHING DAY, AUGUST 24. Remember, if you call in now, we have 2 sets of tickets (and a Gannett designer tote bag) for each lucky couple who answers the magic question correctly. Those lucky winners will get to sit at the RNN/Gannett dais with Richard French, Roger Witherspoon, and Nita Lowey. SO CALL IN NOW, DON'T WAIT. OUR INTERACTIVITY EDITORS ARE WAITING AT OUR ONE GANNETT DRIVE PHONE BANKS FOR YOUR CALLS REMEMBER....FREE COMPLIMENTARY TOILETRIES PACKETS WILL GO OUT TO THE FIRST TEN LUCKY CALLERS!!!
Posted by: VP_VP on Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:12 am

Here are the two reasons that evacuations seem unrealistic. 1) They will never be required and 2) There have only ever been two nuclear accidents. The one in the USA hurt zero (0) people. During that accident, a local small town Mayor, Robert Reid of Middletown, ordered his town evacuated, against the wishes of Pa. Governor Thornburg & the NRC. Because of his foolish panic, a lot of people were frightened. To avoid this ever happening again, NRC mandated an overall emergency plan, and all towns would have to buy in to it. Thus you have sirens. The sirens, and the plan itself, exist not so much because anyone thinks they will ever be needed, but rather to prevent foolish grandstanding by small-fry politicoes jumping out of place, leading the band, and causing a riot. Forces of obfuscation have suppressed this truth, trying to make everyone think an evac plan is expected to be real, and expected to function perfectly. It is not. It exists specifically to keep the power to evacuate in the hands of only the highest officials. It will never be needed. Since it will never be needed, and therefore never be used, it is neurotic worry-mongering of the highest order to actually dig down, and expose all its faults. It only exists to make Spano obey Spitzer, and not the other way around. After all, if small-fries, acting panicky, can lead America to run into the ocean like Lemmings, Income Tax collections might be way off, the next year!Posted by: VP_VP on Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:11 pm
HERE IS ANOTHER FACTUAL POLL RESULT ...... 61% FEEL THAT EVACUATION IS NOT WORKABLE ! J WAYNE LEONARD C.E.O. ENTERGY HEADQUATERS 639 LOYOLA AVE. NEW ORLEANS, La 70113 PHONE : 504-576-4000 FAX : 504-576-4428 PLUTONIUM IS FOREVER!..........1776 : THE DIRECTORS CUT
Posted by: ball on Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:36 am

I've written the next article for Greg Clary, so that he can go to the shore this weekend, and maybe have a life. (I know the TJN editorial board wants story continuity maintained here). 13 DAYS TO THE BIG NUCLEAR WITCHING HOUR Gannett, White Plains, 8/12/2007 Yes, only 12 pregnant days remain until the ultimate siren test determines whether Nita Lowey gets another $130,000 to spend on useless think-tank studies, Whether Entergy turns out to be Cinderella, and ride away in the big Pumpkin Coach with Rudy Giuliani (the white prince) to the big "License-Extension Ball", or turns out to be a siren-less dufus, sent back home in a donkey-cart. Odds are on Entergy squeaking through it all,... in fact the betting line in Vegas is 8-5 on Entergy, with the point spread giving them between 2 and 5 failed sirens overall, which would give them a passing grade with FEMA, but probably not with the concerned, outraged, and passionate anti community of 65 people who have dominated our politics hereabouts for 7 years, and intend to keep things that way! Jim Steets, interviewed in the Entergy locker room this A.M., said "Our boys are fired up, all our scrimmages went great, and we have that grudge match feeling against Spano helping us dig way down inside and get it all....... Bring It On!!!" Andy Spano, interviewed by cell phone at a backroom poker game said: " Hack....hack.... Damn cigar smoke...... What did ya say??? Can't hear ya. I'll see that bet, and raise you $130,000 that you f*ck up again, Arkansas-boy!" We were not able to determine if Mr. Spano's remarks were pertinent to his poker game, to the siren controversy, (or to both). Meanwhile, as the witching hour approached, citizens noticed teams of men in white coats with clipboards, going from siren to siren at night in black SUV's with tinted windows, perhaps chanting the good luck incantations intended to make the ghost in each siren appear on cue, on the BIG DAY! Remember TJN, and News Channel 12 will be on hand, with an 11 camera setup (the largest Ch 12 ever mounted) to capture each squeaky wail (or the embarrassing silence) on the BIG WITCHING DAY, AUGUST 24. Remember, if you call in now, we have 2 sets of tickets (and a Gannett designer tote bag) for each lucky couple who answers the magic question correctly. Those lucky winners will get to sit at the RNN/Gannett dais with Richard French, Roger Witherspoon, and Nita Lowey. SO CALL IN NOW, DON'T WAIT. OUR INTERACTIVITY EDITORS ARE WAITING AT OUR ONE GANNETT DRIVE PHONE BANKS FOR YOUR CALLS!!!
Posted by: VP_VP on Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:24 am