Ladies and gentleman this is only a test…ok, well actually it’s more than just a test! It’s an unprecedented assessment of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The EAS is a “media communications- based alerting system that is designed to transmit emergency alerts and warning to the American public”. Most of you are probably very familiar with this system or its predecessor the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS), as it has probably cut into a show you’re intently watching or interrupted your favorite song on the radio! While testing of this system happens locally and at the state level on a weekly to monthly basis, there has never been a nationwide test!
On November 9th at 2pm in the afternoon the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct the first nationwide test to evaluate the ability of this system to affectively notify the entire country during an emergency affecting the entire nation. The system has never been used for such an event, but the potential exists making this test long overdue and imperative.
The test will last approximately 3 minutes and will sound and look very similar to the tests you have experienced in the past. The date of November 9th and time of 2pm were carefully selected for this test. November 9th places us at the end of hurricane season and well in advance of severe winter weather, decreasing the potential for an emergency that would require use of the EAS. The 2pm time slot was chosen to minimize disruption during rush hour and ensure that the test happens during working hours.
Though the testing of this system can feel like a nuisance, when there is an emergency the prompt notifications delivered by EAS can and does save lives! So on November 9th at 2pm tune in or turn on to witness history as the FCC conducts this nationwide test!
Want to learn more about EAS and this test?
www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/emergency-alert-system-eas.
No comments:
Post a Comment