Nationwide EAS Test Planned for September 28

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, September 27, 2016

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the FCC, will conduct a mandatory nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wednesday, September 28, at 2:20pm ET. Both agencies say the purpose of a nationwide test is to ensure that EAS remains "an effective means of warning the public about emergencies" and that periodic testing helps to assess the operational readiness of alerting infrastructure and identify any needed improvements.

The nationwide test will be administered by FEMA, in cooperation with the FCC and National Weather Service, and with the participation of radio, broadcast TV, cable, satellite and other service providers (EAS Participants). EAS Participants are required to file reports with the FCC after the test, which the agency will analyze to determine how the test performed.

FEMA's test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages in that the public should receive both audio and on-screen text conveying that this is only a test. Specific language will differ slightly as it will indicate that, "This is a nationaltest of the Emergency Alert System. This is only a test."

The test message will be transmitted in both English and Spanish, with EAS Participants deciding which version to use for their communities. The test is intended to last approximately one minute.

September is National Preparedness Month. In addition to conducting the nationwide EAS test, FEMA and the FCC encourage individuals to take action to prepare now and throughout the year by preparing an emergency plan.