Don't Stress, It's Only a Test

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System Wednesday. The national test will include boadcast TV stations, cable TV systems, satellite TV companies, and radio stations.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be working in partnership with the Federal Communications Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

The following is specific information FEMA wants the public to be made aware of in advance of this nationwide test. People will not be able to move to another channel to avoid hearing the message.

• It will be conducted Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m. EST.
• It will be transmitted via television and radio stations within the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
• Similar to local emergency alert system tests, an audio message will interrupt television and radio programming indicating: “This is a test.”
• When the test is over, regular programming will resume.

In the lead up to the test, the FCC and other partners are working together to spread the word to as many members of the public as possible about the EAS test. “We're asking everyone to join us by spreading the word to your neighbors, co-workers, friends and family -- share this web page, post a message on your social media site, and feel free to embed our videos on your website or blog,” the website states.

Although the EAS test may resemble the periodic local EAS tests that most people are already familiar with, there will be some differences in what viewers will see on their TV screen. The audio message will be the same for everyone; however, due to limitations in the EAS, the video test message on cable TV systems will not indicate that “This is a test.” The text at the top of the television screen may indicate that an “Emergency Action Notification has been issued.”

The EAS has been in existence for over 15 years, but there has never been a nationwide test of the system. The nationwide test is being conducted to verify the reliability of the EAS system and its effectiveness in alerting the public on a national scale.

For additional questions, visit the FAQ’s page and the FCC EAS Test page.