First National Test of Emergency Alert System

Daily News Article   —   Posted on November 4, 2011

(by Angenene Gibbs, SapulpaHeraldOnline.com) – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FCC recently announced there will be a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System at [2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time] on Wednesday, Nov. 9.  [The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national warning system, which replaced the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) on January 1, 1997.]

Federal Communications Commission officials said the purpose of the test is to assess the reliability and effectiveness of the system in alerting the public. …

The three-minute test will use analog and digital signals from radio, television, cable, satellite and wireline phone providers through specialized equipment. ….. [StudentNewsDaily Editor’s Note:  The FEMA website now indicates the test will last 30 seconds.  The test will involve broadcast radio and television stations, cable television, satellite radio and television services and wireline video service providers across all states and the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa. ]

During the test, viewers and listeners will be notified, “This is a test.” Although next Wednesday’s test will resemble previous tests, the top of the screen may say, “Emergency Action Notification has been issued.” On some screens, there may or may not be an image. FEMA and the FCC reported that on some screens, the “This is a test” disclaimer might not show up.

State and local officials have used the Emergency Alert System for weather information and other emergencies, but there has never been a national activation of the system.

Federal officials are hoping to assess the readiness and effectiveness of the current system and to identify potential improvements. The current system has been in place 15 years.

National alert systems began in 1951. The Emergency Broadcast System was a 1963 upgrade. Although the system was never used for a “national emergency,” it was activated more than 20,000 times [at the state and local level] between 1976 and 1996 to alert Americans about civil emergencies and severe weather.  [The Emergency Alert System replaced the Emergency Broadcast System in 1997.]

Wednesday’s test is a joint venture with FEMA, the FCC, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, broadcasters and state and local emergency agencies.

Officials said the test can provide an accurate picture of the current state of the system and possible improvements for a more reliable, resilient system. They chose the Nov. 9 date because of the end of the hurricane season and the window before the winter storms begin.

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