County to re-test emergency sirens in Xcel footprint

Goodhue County emergency personnel will conduct a second test of emergency sirens within the Prairie Island nuclear plant footprint at 1 p.m. Wednesday, after an initial test led to technical difficulties.

Sirens in Red Wing unexpectedly sounded in the Nov. 3 test, held after personnel reprogrammed the county's emergency alert system this year, according to Emergency Management Director Diane Richter-Biwer. She said staff later learned that the sirens were, in fact, intended to sound under the newly programmed system.

People in Red Wing and surrounding townships within 10 miles of the nuclear plant can expect to hear the sirens Wednesday. Emergency siren tests are typically conducted the first Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m.

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