Check it out—it could be only a test. Siren tests occur for approximately three minutes in your area on the first Wednesday of each month at noon. If there is severe weather in the area at the time of a scheduled test, the sirens
may not be tested.
Remember: Hearing a siren or tone-alert radio does not mean you should evacuate. It means turn on your radio or television and listen for instructions.
Tune to your local radio or television station and
listen for details. WUSY-FM (100.7) in Chattanooga and WIVK-FM (107.7) in Knoxville are the primary and alternate EAS stations in the area and are monitored by other stations. A real warning could mean fire, tornado, chemical spill, nuclear incident
or other emergency.
Most radio and television stations in the area participate in the EAS and will be making announcements. NOAA weather radio (162.55 MHz) will instruct listeners to tune to one of these stations.
Check on your neighbors.
Do not use the phone unless absolutely necessary. The phone lines need to be open for emergency workers. Do not call 911 for information if you hear the sirens.
If the warning involves an incident at Watts Bar, you might be advised to go indoors and close all windows, doors and other sources of outside air. You may be advised to monitor and prepare or you may be advised to leave (evacuate)
your area. Click here for more
information.
This is a precautionary action to advise the public within the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) that a serious emergency at the nuclear plant exists and you should monitor the situation and prepare for the possibility of evacuation, shelter in place or other protective actions.
If an evacuation is underway, members of the public who are NOT directed to evacuate should remain off the roadways to allow the evacuation to proceed.
In the event of an evacuation, first consideration is always given to the safety of children. Schools and childcare centers within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone will be paired with schools in safe areas for relocation. Click here for the full list of pairings.
If an evacuation is ordered, it is important that you follow the evacuation routes shown on the map below. The 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) is divided into sectors. For quick reference, locate the sector in which you live or work and write it
in the space below.
Find the evacuation route for your zone.
If an evacuation is ordered, locate the number for your sector and follow that route. Emergency workers will patrol these roads and will provide any aid or guidance you need.
NOTE: Individuals in doubt as to sector of residence or work
should contact their local emergency management agency.
Select the image for a high resolution map.