November 8, 2011
Nationwide emergency alert system test Wednesday
The first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9. The purpose of the test is to assess the reliability and effectiveness of the system in alerting the public.
How will the national Emergency Alert System test be conducted? The Federal Emergency Management Agency along with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct the nationwide test. The alert will be transmitted throughout the country and will be monitored by the Emergency Alert System participants. After the test has been completed, the Emergency Alert System participants will report back to the FCC on the results of the test.
What will people see and hear during the test? Although the nationwide Emergency Alert System test may resemble the periodic monthly alert system tests that most consumers are familiar with, there will be some differences in what consumers may see or hear, which is one reason for conducting a nationwide test. During the test, the public will hear a message indicating, “This is a test.” The audio message will be the same for everyone; however, due to limitations of the Emergency Alert System, the video test message may not be the same and may not indicate, “This is a test.” This is due to the use of a “live” national code – the same code that would be used in an actual emergency. Also, the background image that appears on video screens may indicate “this is a test” but in some cases there may be no image at all. FEMA and the FCC plan to reach out to organizations representing people with hearing disabilities to prepare that community for the national test. In addition, FEMA and the FCC will work with Emergency Alert System participants to explore whether there are solutions to address this limitation.
What exactly is the Emergency Alert System? The Emergency Alert System is a media communications-based alerting system that is designed to transmit emergency alerts and warnings to the American public at the national, tribal, state and local levels. Emergency Alert System participants broadcast alerts and warnings regarding weather threats, child abductions and other types of emergencies. Emergency Alert System alerts are transmitted over television and radio broadcast, satellite television and satellite radio, cable television and wireline video services.
When is the Emergency Alert System used and when would a national alert be sent? The Emergency Alert System is often used by state and local emergency managers to alert the public about emergencies and weather events. The system provides the ability to send messages regionally or nationally, though it has never been tested at these levels. A major disaster such as an earthquake or tsunami could require the use of the system to send life-saving information to the public.
Why do we need a nationwide test? Although local and state components of the Emergency Alert System are tested on a weekly and monthly basis, there has never been an end-to-end nationwide test of the system. We need to know that the system will work as intended should public safety officials ever need to send an alert or warning to a large region of the United States. Only a complete, top-down test of the Emergency Alert System can provide an appropriate diagnosis of the system’s performance.
How long will the test last? We anticipate that the test will last approximately three minutes.
Why is the national test being conducted at this particular date and time? In order to minimize disruption and confusion during the Emergency Alert System test, it is being conducted Nov. 9 because this date is near the end of hurricane season and before the severe winter weather season begins. The 1 p.m. broadcast will minimize disruption during rush hours while ensuring that the test occurs during working hours across the country.
Will the test involve mobile communications devices? No. The test will involve only those communications service providers – broadcast radio and television, cable television, satellite radio and television and wireline video services – that participate in the Emergency Alert System.