On Wednesday, November 9, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, we will see the first “national” test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Formerly known as the Emergency Broadcast System, this is the alert and warning system that interrupts television and radio broadcasts.
The public will hear a message lasting thirty seconds which clearly states: “This is a test.” The message will be the same across radio, television, cable and satellite outlets.
To further avoid confusion, TV outlets may prepare an on-screen “crawl” or other visual reminder indicating this is merely a test. Click here for more information.
The national-level Emergency Alert System (EAS) is an alert and warning system that enables the President to address the American public during extreme emergencies. This test will resemble frequently conducted, local EAS tests. However, this is a national event. As such, this test will broadcast to television and radio outlets throughout the country.
Here are some important things for you to know:
- The EAS Test is expected to last 30 seconds. (Some news outlets may have reported that it would last over 3 minutes, but that has recently changed).
- It will disrupt programming on your televisions. If you are a Comcast subscriber, you should have received notices about this. You can check out their website for the specifics related to your television viewing.
- Some people may not see a familiar banner or crawl across their television screens depending on the technology being used. Some people may only hear a voice during the test that says this is a test.
- Most importantly, DO NOT CALL 9-1-1. As with any alert, pay special attention to the message which should confirm that this is only a test.
More reading: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are all involved in this first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System.
