NEWS RELEASE

FROM THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

CONTACT:  Ron Alsop, Emergency Services Coordinator (805) 781-5011, before September 20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COUNTY AND RELATED AGENCIES TO HOLD DIABLO CANYON EMERGENCY DRILL

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA, September 18, 2006 – The County of San Luis Obispo along with various other local and state agencies will be participating in a day long emergency exercise (drill) on September 20, 2006.  The drill will be based on a simulated emergency which affects the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant and will be held in conjunction with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).

While local drills and exercises are often held throughout the County, this exercise will involve simultaneously testing a number of jurisdiction’s communications systems, interagency coordination procedures, and emergency response plans.  This will help determine the effectiveness of existing emergency readiness procedures.  Part of the communications portion of the drill will include notification of schools located within the Diablo Canyon Emergency Planning Zone. 

Since various jurisdictions will be participating, there will be simulated emergency communications over radios and telephones.  While all communications involve the statement “this is a drill” should members of the public hear of such communications they can rest assured it is only a drill.  There will be no sounding of the Early Warning System sirens and there will be no activation or use of the Emergency Alert System for the drill.

Should an actual emergency happen simultaneously with the drill the public will be advised as necessary through the local media or other notification methods.

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County OES September 20 Exercise News Release, Page 2 of 2

The simulated emergency will involve activating the County Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) and other local agency emergency coordination and support facilities. Since this drill concentrates on EOC and other emergency management plans and procedures, the public should not notice any unusual public safety agency drill activity Wednesday. The exercise will run from the early morning hours until late afternoon.

Diablo Canyon Power Plant and other emergency preparedness information can be found in the white pages of the San Luis Obispo County edition of the AT&T/SBC telephone book or on the County Office of Emergency Services Web site at http://www.slocountyoes.com.

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