WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Neighbors who live near the tsunami alert towers along the Whatcom County coast should not be concerned when the towers’ tsunami sirens are activated on Thursday, October 19th, at 10:19am as part of the annual Great ShakeOut event.
People near the towers will hear the real wailing sound of the siren for approximately 2 minutes according to Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management. This will not be the Westminster Chimes sound used during monthly tests.
Tsunami alert siren towers are located in Blaine, Birch Bay, Lummi Peninsula (near the casino and near Hales Pass), Point Roberts, Sandy Point and on Port of Bellingham property. These sirens are meant to be heard by people outside within 500 feet.
NOAA weather radios set to receive the required monthly test typically also activate during this exercise.
The Great ShakeOut is a global initiative held each year on 10/20 at 10:20am each year as a means to increase awareness of what to do in the event of an earthquake. Frequent participants are public institutions (government offices, schools, etc.) and businesses.
Each state organizes their own Great ShakeOut campaigns and drills, including Washington.