Preparedness
Feds to Test U.S. Emergency System
TV and radio programs will be temporarily interrupted Wednesday as federal agencies conduct the first-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System.
This Federal Communications Commission graphic has been used to publicize the first-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System. (Graphic By: FCC)
Electric and telecommunications cooperatives that offer cable programming or satellite communications services will be among the businesses participating.
The test, carried out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission, is expected to preempt all regular broadcast programming in the United States at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Nov. 9. The test will include an audio message indicating that “this is a test.”
“FEMA views this test as an excellent opportunity to assess the readiness and effectiveness of the current system,” said Damon Penn, an assistant administrator for FEMA’s National Continuity Programs.
While elements of the Emergency Alert System are routinely tested and activated at local, regional, or statewide levels, the system has never been tested nationally.
Federal officials announced plans for the test in June as part of an upgrade of the system that has been in use for decades.
The test will include all television and broadcast radio stations operating in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.
Digital television services, cable systems and satellite audio and television providers are being required to participate in the test. That means electric and telecommunications cooperatives that provide such services will carry the test messages.
“The 50-year-old system was not built to support open or closed captioning, translations, or other tools to supplement the audio portion of the test for broader accessibility,” wrote the sponsoring agencies in a joint statement issued to reporters.
In recent weeks, both agencies have stepped up efforts to make sure the public knows Wednesday’s exercise is only a test. While local tests typically take about 30 seconds, and weather alerts last up to two minutes, presidential messages broadcast through the system would not be subject to time limits, FEMA officials said.
Tags: Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration