People in Northeast Tacoma, Fife and on the Tideflats should not be alarmed to hear voices and ringing in their ears Thursday and Friday, as Port of Tacoma vendors test an emergency warning system under installation.

The Port-wide Emergency Warning System (PEWS) is intended to alert people on the Tideflats to local and regional hazards.

During an actual emergency, sirens and voice alarms will sound. This week’s tests, however, will involve tones that sound like Westminster chimes and voice alarms to test functioning of the system and connections to the five individual sirens.

When installation is complete, the Tacoma Fire Department will operate the system in coordination with Pierce County Emergency Management and Washington State Emergency Management.

About the Port of Tacoma
The Port of Tacoma is an economic engine for South Puget Sound, with more than 43,000 family-wage jobs in Pierce County and 113,000 jobs across Washington state connected to Port activities. A major gateway to Asia and Alaska, the Port of Tacoma is among the largest container ports in North America. The Port is also a major center for bulk, breakbulk and project/heavy-lift cargoes, as well as automobiles and trucks.