May 13--Hartsville residents have begun hearing the sounds of Progress -- Energy, that is.

Progress Energy is investing $2.5 million in upgrades to the siren system in the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) surrounding the H.B. Robinson Nuclear Plant. Andy Cole, communications specialist at the Robinson plant, said the changes are simply an upgrade to the current siren system being used by the plant. There are 45 sirens surrounding the EPZ. The upgrade will add another 16 sirens to the area, bringing the total number of sirens to 61. "We've had some population growth," Cole said. "People around here know it's going to change with a system that looks different and sounds different." Progress Energy has four nuclear plants throughout the Southeast, and the new sirens either already are in service or are being installed in those locations, Cole said.

The new system will be battery-operated to ensure the ability to use the system during severe weather. In the event of a hurricane-caused power outage, the new system could run on a single charge for as many as four days, Cole said. "It makes for a much more reliable system," he said. The sirens have not had to be used for anything other than testing, Cole said. But in the event of a radiation spill, the sirens will be in place to warn residents. "In the very unlikely event there were ever a release of radiation or something that had potential to endanger the community, it is part of our commitment to the public's safety to warn the public," he said.

The new sirens will make sure that commitment is honored, Cole said. Residents should expect the new sirens to sound much different than the old ones, Cole said. They also can expect to hear more testing signals while the upgrades are being installed, then the testing frequency will return to normal. "We do test these sirens every quarter on a low volume called a growl test," he said. "Once a quarter, we test them at full volume."