By Paul Shukovsky, Pierce County Emergency Management
Seventeen outdoor lahar warning sirens operated by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management successfully sounded today at noon for the monthly test of the system. This drill coincides with the monthly test by state Emergency Management Division for the tsunami sirens along the coast.
The Pierce County tests are designed to ensure that the sirens are working properly and can be heard outdoors throughout the Puyallup River valley.
Monday morning, the Pierce County ALERT system made about 8,600 calls in the Puyallup River Valley to let residents and businesses know that the test was going to take place. People can opt-in their cell phones, work phones, e-mail addresses and other devices on the ALERT system by visiting www.piercecountywa.gov and signing up. (People who receive these calls are asked to please push ‘1’ to hear the message.)