Exelon testing Muddy Run emergency system Thursday

York Dispatch

Exelon Generation, in conjunction with Rittenhouse Astronomical Society, unveiled a new astronomy observatory and program at Muddy Run Park, Lancaster County, on Oct. 22. Pictured is an artist rendering of the observatory.

Exelon will be testing its Muddy Run emergency warning system Thursday.

The Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility, in Lancaster County, is an electric generating station built in 1968. It includes a 1,000-acre, 250-foot deep power reservoir, created by the construction of a rock-filled dam, which is 4,800 feet long and 150 feet high, a release states.

Six sets of loudspeakers installed in Drumore Township, Lancaster County, and Lower Chanceford and Peach Bottom townships in York County, upstream and downstream of the facility, will warn residents living along Conowingo Pond in case of an emergency, according to the release.

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The test is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, July 12.

After a brief tone, the words "This is a test, this is a test" will sound from the speakers, lasting about two minutes.

In the event of an actual emergency, listeners would hear “This is an emergency, please move to higher ground, this is an emergency, please move to higher ground.”

The system was installed by Exelon Generation in 2003, and a test is run every three months, on the second Thursday of January, April, July and October.