Well… the tornado outbreak was fun late yesterday afternoon. Exelon wants to do away with warning sirens in DeWitt County and replace them with only phone or internet alerts sometime in 2024. The nuclear power plant has nearly 40 sirens in that county that serve as alert systems for weather as well as the plant. They claim it’s becoming too expensive to maintain them at $3-4,000 per year. Yesterday a lot of folks in the outbreak area did not receive alerts on their phones, had no cell service, or didn’t have their phones on them at the time, and the sirens were their first alert that something was up. Then they turned to local news, apps, or social media for more information- just how the early warning siren system is designed to work. The initial tornado was spotter reported. Luckily no one was injured. Some damage to a farm and subdivision near Maroa, damage in Decatur, and also near Gibson City.
JoanP- Exelon (should probably be using Constellation instead since they have spun off) is “selling” this as a 21st Century upgrade to the alert system. The local EMA and CENCOM officers are on board with the proposed change, but there is growing backlash from the community as they learn more about this plan which was unveiled in New/Old Business during the DeWitt County Oct. 2022 board meeting. Seems like some of the state and federal subsidies could easily cover such an inexpensive public safety plan… at least until the plant is fully decommissioned sometime in the future.
I found Stacy Bennett’s positive assessment of four of the people who have applied for Scott’s Senate seat to be compelling. She’s not formally endorsing, but these are strong endorsements nonetheless. Notably, she did not identify Ammons for praise.
Big Dipper- Having warning sirens around a nuclear power plant is standard procedures for a 10 mile radius. Has been for years. This isn’t the county’s responsibility to maintain them. The sirens are used for weather warnings as a plus, but they are there for nuclear accident alerts, too. At Oyster Creek, there were conditions set regarding changing warning systems:
From 2018- Exelon was going to be allowed to discontinue siren use at Oyster Creek… ” Oyster Creek stopped operating in September. In October, the federal government granted Exelon permission to amend the plant’s emergency plan after it permanently defueled the nuclear reactor.
The decision will allow the operator to discontinue the Emergency Planning Zone within a 10-mile radius and eliminate the use of emergency sirens. But the changes cannot be implemented until 12 months after the plant’s closure, allowing the spent fuel to cool sufficiently to reduce the risk of a fire and radioactivity spread.
The plant must continue to maintain an on-site emergency plan and emergency response capabilities. In the event of an emergency, the operator must notify the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and state authorities.”
If Exelon is complaining about $4,000 for warning sirens, the state should relieve them of the burden by taking them over and running them directly on behalf of the public.
The GOP on the National level seems ineffective and disorganized as it embarrasses itself. I’m glad the Illinois GOP is not like that.
- thisjustinagain - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 1:14 pm:
Wet, somewhat foggy morning and early afternoon. I looked out the window, wondering where she was…sorry, Mike Hammer outbreak there.
Also, Lurker at 12:35PM…”Surely you can’t be serious?!” (Airplane!)
Going to miss a lot of House Republicans. There’s a cadre whom I disagreed with on many issues, but who have demonstrated a sincere interest in governing and have been reasonable, approachable, thoughtful, courteous public servants: Batinick, Wheeler, Demmer, Brady, Bourne, and Butler come to mind.
=== Batinick, Wheeler, Demmer, Brady, Bourne, and Butler===
How many of those, for a whole General Assembly, voted to hurt Illinois’ most vulnerable and needy and then ran for re-election with pride on that?
=== sincere interest in governing and have been reasonable, approachable, thoughtful, courteous public servants===
They can be affable, friendly, “nice”, even courteous, as people, individuals… but if one ignores those two years, that whole General Assembly… that’s not a true look at these careers that participated in those two years hurting Illinois.
I can like many of them, all of them, but at their switch Illinois is still working to recover from damage.
With respect, and liking them as individuals away from the switches is easy and obvious.
- Proud Papa Bear - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 3:56 pm:
I filled up in Wisconsin over the holidays. I was surprised that gas in my hometown was less.
And yes, moving Chicago Tonight to 10 is a terrible idea. To me, it’a the most important show to inform citizens in our area.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 8:29 am:
Well… the tornado outbreak was fun late yesterday afternoon. Exelon wants to do away with warning sirens in DeWitt County and replace them with only phone or internet alerts sometime in 2024. The nuclear power plant has nearly 40 sirens in that county that serve as alert systems for weather as well as the plant. They claim it’s becoming too expensive to maintain them at $3-4,000 per year. Yesterday a lot of folks in the outbreak area did not receive alerts on their phones, had no cell service, or didn’t have their phones on them at the time, and the sirens were their first alert that something was up. Then they turned to local news, apps, or social media for more information- just how the early warning siren system is designed to work. The initial tornado was spotter reported. Luckily no one was injured. Some damage to a farm and subdivision near Maroa, damage in Decatur, and also near Gibson City.
https://www.weather.gov/source/crh/lsrmap.html?zoom=7&lat=39.94&lon=-89&hr=36&severe=1&flooding=1&other=1
- JoanP - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 8:55 am:
Exelon can’t afford $3-4,000 a year? Maybe some of their executives should take a pay cut? https://www1.salary.com/EXELON-CORP-Executive-Salaries.html
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 9:15 am:
JoanP- Exelon (should probably be using Constellation instead since they have spun off) is “selling” this as a 21st Century upgrade to the alert system. The local EMA and CENCOM officers are on board with the proposed change, but there is growing backlash from the community as they learn more about this plan which was unveiled in New/Old Business during the DeWitt County Oct. 2022 board meeting. Seems like some of the state and federal subsidies could easily cover such an inexpensive public safety plan… at least until the plant is fully decommissioned sometime in the future.
- Franklin - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 9:39 am:
Z. Hate seeing moderates leave the process.
- Because I said so... - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 10:13 am:
Gong to miss Tony Munoz. Great guy who was accessible and super likeable.
On another note, really not pleased that Chicago Tonight is moving to 10 pm. I think it’s a bad move on the part of WTTW.
- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 10:25 am:
Perhaps the County should offer to pay the $4k a year if leaders think the alarms are beneficial to the general public.
- Dr. M - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 10:30 am:
I found Stacy Bennett’s positive assessment of four of the people who have applied for Scott’s Senate seat to be compelling. She’s not formally endorsing, but these are strong endorsements nonetheless. Notably, she did not identify Ammons for praise.
https://www.news-gazette.com/news/stacy-bennett-four-applicants-her-husband-would-have-been-high-on/article_0117098e-ab22-5490-b164-d8c139f22058.html
I’m personally keen on Gianina Baker and Mary Catherine Roberson but there are a lot of strong contendors.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 11:15 am:
Big Dipper- Having warning sirens around a nuclear power plant is standard procedures for a 10 mile radius. Has been for years. This isn’t the county’s responsibility to maintain them. The sirens are used for weather warnings as a plus, but they are there for nuclear accident alerts, too. At Oyster Creek, there were conditions set regarding changing warning systems:
From 2018- Exelon was going to be allowed to discontinue siren use at Oyster Creek… ” Oyster Creek stopped operating in September. In October, the federal government granted Exelon permission to amend the plant’s emergency plan after it permanently defueled the nuclear reactor.
The decision will allow the operator to discontinue the Emergency Planning Zone within a 10-mile radius and eliminate the use of emergency sirens. But the changes cannot be implemented until 12 months after the plant’s closure, allowing the spent fuel to cool sufficiently to reduce the risk of a fire and radioactivity spread.
The plant must continue to maintain an on-site emergency plan and emergency response capabilities. In the event of an emergency, the operator must notify the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and state authorities.”
https://whyy.org/articles/closed-oyster-creek-nuclear-plant-to-hold-emergency-siren-test/
- Quibbler - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 11:53 am:
If Exelon is complaining about $4,000 for warning sirens, the state should relieve them of the burden by taking them over and running them directly on behalf of the public.
- Lurker - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 12:35 pm:
The GOP on the National level seems ineffective and disorganized as it embarrasses itself. I’m glad the Illinois GOP is not like that.
- thisjustinagain - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 1:14 pm:
Wet, somewhat foggy morning and early afternoon. I looked out the window, wondering where she was…sorry, Mike Hammer outbreak there.
Also, Lurker at 12:35PM…”Surely you can’t be serious?!” (Airplane!)
- Juana - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 2:36 pm:
Going to miss a lot of House Republicans. There’s a cadre whom I disagreed with on many issues, but who have demonstrated a sincere interest in governing and have been reasonable, approachable, thoughtful, courteous public servants: Batinick, Wheeler, Demmer, Brady, Bourne, and Butler come to mind.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 2:42 pm:
=== Batinick, Wheeler, Demmer, Brady, Bourne, and Butler===
How many of those, for a whole General Assembly, voted to hurt Illinois’ most vulnerable and needy and then ran for re-election with pride on that?
=== sincere interest in governing and have been reasonable, approachable, thoughtful, courteous public servants===
They can be affable, friendly, “nice”, even courteous, as people, individuals… but if one ignores those two years, that whole General Assembly… that’s not a true look at these careers that participated in those two years hurting Illinois.
I can like many of them, all of them, but at their switch Illinois is still working to recover from damage.
With respect, and liking them as individuals away from the switches is easy and obvious.
- Proud Papa Bear - Wednesday, Jan 4, 23 @ 3:56 pm:
I filled up in Wisconsin over the holidays. I was surprised that gas in my hometown was less.
And yes, moving Chicago Tonight to 10 is a terrible idea. To me, it’a the most important show to inform citizens in our area.