Sirens at nuclear plants often lacking backup power

[shawn703]

More than two dozen nuclear power plants across the country lack sirens that would warn of a nuclear emergency if electricity also was blacked out, according to a report by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Twenty-eight U.S. plants lack backup power for sirens that are supposed to alert residents in a 10-mile radius of trouble, the NRC said. Seventeen plants have full backup for the systems, while 18 others have at least some sirens that would remain operable during an outage.

The NRC released the information Wednesday as part of its response to a coalition of 17 activist groups and elected officials that petitioned the commission in February for information about the siren systems.



more...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-05-27-nuclear-sirens_x.htm?csp=34

[MisterP]

1. we peons also won't be notified of leaks or defects

'coz humans aren't important, Bechtel is

[Hand]

2. Good god...

This sounds like something out of the Simpsons...

[Javaman]

3. Mr. Burns office...

Homer Simpson is all a quiver. He stands before Mr. Burns.

MR BURNS: Why the plant is all aglow! Who's fault is this!

MR SMITHERS: One of your oxygen wasters from sector 7G, Homer Simpson.

MR BURNS: Well bring the blasted fool here!

MR SMITHERS: Um, he's right in front of you, sir.

MR BURNS: Oh yes, I thought he was one of those over-sized comical novelty bobbled headed toys you see in the rear window of a motor coach. Well, what do you have to say for yourself! Hummmm????

HOMER: Well, sir, I...er...

MR SMITHERS: Come, come now Simpson, Mr Burns got all day! And take that donut out of your mouth!

HOMER: Well, the sirens weren't working...

MR BURNS: What's that you say? Si-rennnnn?

MR SMITHERS: It's an alarm device to warn the employees of a potential melt down.

MR BURNS: Oh yes, old Ike Eisenhower tried to tell me about that, he was such a worry wort. Well Simpson, it looks like your off the hook!

HOMER: WOO HOO!

MR BURNS: Oh and your fired.

HOMER: D'oh!

MR BURNS: Sorry old chum, gotta have a scape goat in these things, ta!