On Becoming a "Local" and not merely another "Just-Arrived"

One relatively simple thing truly separates the locals from the tourists – when the orchestra of emergency sirens plays to full crescendo up and down the coast we take it in stride because we know it’s a test, only a test.

It might be argued to be a phenomenon similar to the 1938 broadcast of War of the Worlds on Mercury Theatre of the Air. Think of us locals as those who recognized the show was a dramatization provided for our entertainment. Think of the tourists as the rest of America who gave the newspapers such a field day.

The Early Warning System of more than 100 extremely loud sirens stretch from Cayucos on the north to Nipomo on the south and as far inland as the City of San Luis Obispo. They are intended to warn us of any potential public health emergency caused by some mishap at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, located on the shore between Avila Beach and Montana del Oro.  Because they are potentially of such critical importance to the wellbeing of so many thousands of people it is vital that they always be working properly. And that’s where the testing comes in.

Once or twice a year the system is tested in all its full-throated glory. These tests are preceded by lots of publicity about the planned tests so none of us are afflicted by War of the Worlds syndrome. But here’s the interesting part – the publicity occurs mid-week in advance of the Saturday tests. On Saturday the populations of some of the areas affected might double with visitors in town for the weekend. Remember, they weren’t here mid-week so they don’t necessarily know that it is just a test.

I remember taking my son to Avila Beach one Saturday some years ago. From the beach I was watching him boogie boarding in the wave when noon struck and the sirens cranked up. Up and down the beach tourists who had been lackadaisically working on their tans were suddenly on their feet and walking around in circles, unsure just what to do next.

So if you’re visiting and it’s noon on Saturday, there’s a good chance those sirens you hear are just playing with you. When you live here you will have been advised in advance that the upcoming Saturday will be a good day to visit a beach to view the commotion.