New signs providing information about emergency sirens posted in SLO County

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – San Luis Obispo County is in the process of installing updated signage providing information for its emergency early warning system.

The green and white colored signs include information in both English and Spanish and can be found in various high visible locations, including beaches, parks and other areas where people frequent.

"You can find them at parks and beaches, RV parks. hiking trails, pretty much anywhere that the public would go to recreate," said Kaitlin Munds, San Luis Obispo County Emergency Services Coordinator. "We added about 60 (new signs) throughout the area."

The signs inform visitors and locals if they hear a steady siren for three minutes, they should go indoors and tune into a local television or radio station.

"I really appreciate," said Sacramento resident Raquel Kennedy, while visiting Pismo Preserve on Tuesday morning. "I think it's very helpful because as tourists here, we wouldn't have known what the siren was about."

While the signs are posted in the Diablo Canyon Emergency Planning Zone, the sirens used in the early warning system, are in place to inform the public on several potential emergency situations, including fire, tsunami, dam failure, etc.

"They were put in place for Diablo Canyon Power Plant emergencies," said Munds. "However, we might use them in other emergency situations should, there be a need. However, because they are only in the emergency planning zone. there are other alert notification systems that we would use as well. depending on the situation."

Should the sirens sound, it indicates that the Emergency Alert System (EAS) has been activated, and emergency information will be provided on local radio and television stations.

In an effort to bring awareness about the new signs and the important information they provide, the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services has started a social media effort to get the word out.

The new signs replace older models that were colored plain brown and many times blended into the environment, but the new versions are more eye-catching and attention-grabbing.

For more information about San Luis Obispo County emergency planning, visit ReadySLO.org.