National Emergency Alert Test Set for Wednesday Afternoon

You’ve heard the familiar phrase before: “This is a test.”

That will be the message broadcast nationwide on Wednesday afternoon when, at 2 p.m. EST, a test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) will go live across TV and radio stations throughout the country.

“The purpose of the November 9, 2011 Test is to assess the readiness and effectiveness of the current system and identify incremental improvements to better serve our communities in the preservation of life and property,” according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website.

The test will last about 30 seconds and mark the first time it has ever been administered on a nationwide scale, at the same time.

“FEMA and federal partners are working with the EAS Community to assess if the national-level system will work as designed should officials ever need to send a national alert. A simultaneous test can provide an accurate picture of the current state of the system and the improvements necessary for a more reliable and resilient EAS,” according to FEMA.

One thing to remember: If you hear those familiar, precautionary words, but don’t see them on your screen, don’t panic.

“The audio message will be the same for all EAS Participants; however, due to limitations in the EAS, the video test message scroll may not be the same or indicate that 'This is a test.' This is due to the use of the live EAN code – the same code that would be used in an actual emergency,” according to FEMA.

The test is a joint effort between FEMA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Communications Commission and the National Weather Service.

For more information, click on the YouTube video attached to this article. To see a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions, click here.