As part of on-going testing of St. Bernard Parish’s readiness capabilities, the Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will conduct a scheduled test of its Emergency Siren System on January 11, at approximately 1 p.m.

The test will last for approximately three minutes. This test will also include a broadcast on our AM radio station. The broadcast can be heard on 1680-AM radio.

These tests will be conducted monthly on the second Wednesday of each month.

Different communities may warn the public about an actual emergency in different ways. For example, they may use TV, radio, sirens, the Internet, phone calls or text messages.

Once you are alerted to a possible problem, stay informed. For example, monitor the radio or TV. Authorities will announce whether you should evacuate or stay where you are. They will also provide other information, such as evacuation routes, whether to seal off your shelter room or how long to stay inside.

As a precaution, plan to take a battery-powered (or hand-cranked) radio or TV into your shelter room (if told to shelter-in-place), so you can listen for further instructions.

For tips on facing a variety of situations, visit the St. Bernard Parish Office of Homeland Security website at their Sbpg.net portal page.