‘Air Raid’ next week

Published 2:49 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

When the “Alert” signal sounds throughout

King County sometime between 4:00 a.m., P.S.T., Friday,

May 20, and noon, Sunday, May 22, it will indicate the

beginning of “Operation Survival,” the statewide

Civil Defense test exercise.

In making the announcement, Col. Edward H. Connor, director of King County Civil Defense, said

he wanted county residents to understand that this

would be only a test and not to become alarmed. There will

be no actual evacuation, he stressed.

The test exercise will be held simultaneously

throughout the state to test Civil Defense preparations.

The “Alert” signal, for this exercise, will be a

steady blast of three minutes’ duration which will be

sounded by all fire stations in the county in addition to the

regular Civil Defense sirens. Under real emergency

conditions, this signal, in target areas, would mean

“Evacuate.” In support areas the same signal would mean

“Civil Defense Forces mobilize.”

The extent of Civil Defense participation in

King County during “Operation Survival” will be by law

enforcement agencies and Civil Defense personnel.

Traffic control points will be established on evacuation

routes outside the city limits of Seattle by Sheriff’s

auxiliaries. A number of reception centers outside the

13-mile radius of downtown Seattle will be manned by

Civil Defense personnel.

Full cooperation of those requested to

participate was asked by Colonel Connor. He also asked that

county residents report areas where the “Alert” signal is

not heard to the Civil Defense office.