RALEIGH, N.C. — The Shearon Harris nuclear plant tested its warning sirens Wednesday at full volume.

All 81 sirens within 10 miles of the plant rang for about three minutes as part of a drill. The sirens are located in Chatham, Harnett, Lee and Wake counties.

The plant does several tests a year, but this test was the only one most people heard. The others are silent or low volume, which are tough to hear unless you are right next to the siren.

Shearon Harris officials did not sound the siren near an

ostrich farm

. The birds' owner feared the loud siren would cause the ostriches to have a panic attack.

If it were a real emergency at the plant, alerts would also air on TV and radio stations.