Nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) Test set for Wednesday

NATIONWIDE — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Weather Service (NWS) will conduct the first-ever national-level test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

The test will take place Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 2:00 PM EST. The test may be up to 60 seconds in length. This test is similar to the way local emergency alert system tests are conducted; however, this will be the first nationwide test that is expected to be broadcast simultaneously over all communication service providers: television stations (including digital television, cable, satellite audio and television services) and broadcast radio stations across the U.S. and several U.S. territories.

This nationwide wide EAS Test will help determine the reliability of the system and its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential dangers nationally and regionally.

9-1-1 Facts Concerning Nationwide EAS Test:

• The public is reminded this broadcast is only a TEST.
•  Calls to 9-1-1 to inquire about the test are considered non-emergency calls. These types of calls may overwhelm the telephone network at emergency call centers and delay 9-1-1 from receiving calls from citizens reporting real emergencies. Please help us ensure that callers with actual emergencies can get through to 9-1-1.
• Only call 9-1-1 if you have an actual emergency requiring a response from police, fire or emergency medical services (EMS).
• Calls to 9-1-1 to get information about this test should not be made. For more information, go to http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/eas.pdf

“It will be a familiar sound that they’ve heard before. Most times they may switch the station to see what’s on. In this case they will see the same alert and they may be concerned that something is happening. Don’t dial 911. That will certainly tie up the system and cause more problems,” Jim Lake, Charleston County Consolidated Dispatch Director said.

Read the story here.

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