News

Residents in the Hartsville area may hear outdoor warning sirens on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, as part of a scheduled quarterly test conducted around the Robinson Nuclear Plant.

The testing will take place between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM and is being conducted by Duke Energy in cooperation with emergency management officials from Chesterfield, Darlington, and Lee counties.

During the test, sirens will sound for approximately 5 to 30 seconds to ensure the system is functioning properly. Some sirens may be tested more than once, and follow-up testing may occur after 5:00 PM if maintenance is required.

This Is a Routine Test of the Warning Siren System

Because this is only a test, local radio and television stations will not interrupt programming with Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages. In the event of an actual emergency, local media outlets would provide important information and instructions to the public.

The Robinson Nuclear Plant, located on Lake Robinson near Hartsville, is served by a network of 59 outdoor warning sirens within a 10-mile radius of the facility.

Regular siren testing is an important part of maintaining emergency preparedness and ensuring the warning system is ready if ever needed.

For additional information about outdoor warning sirens and nuclear emergency preparedness, visit Duke Energy's Nuclear Emergency Preparedness website.