On November 9, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, televisions and radios across the nation will broadcast a series of beeps followed by the message, "This is a test." While local and state components of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) are tested on a weekly and monthly basis, respectively, this will mark the first time that the federal government conducts a nationwide, "top-to-bottom" test.

EAS serves as the nation's public warning system.  The test will last for approximately three minutes on all over-the-air broadcasts, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) providers and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers.

While state and local authorities typically utilize EAS for weather-related emergencies and public notices, such as child abduction alerts, it also serves as the primary means for the President to relay critical information to citizens during an emergency.

The test will consist of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) triggering the EAS "cascade" by transmitting the EAS code used for national-level emergencies to the first level of broadcast stations in the EAS, which in turn will rebroadcast the alert to the general public, as well as to the next level of EAS participants monitoring them.   The nationwide test is the beginning of a longer process aimed at improving national emergency alert capabilities.   While the federal government understands the tests can be disruptive, it recognizes the need to ensure the system works and establish a baseline from which it can be improved.

Go here for more information on the test. The National League of Cities (NLC) has also posted a FEMA toolkit for local leaders online here.   

On November 9, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, televisions and radios across the nation will broadcast a series of beeps followed by the message, "This is a test." While local and state components of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) are tested on a weekly and monthly basis, respectively, this will mark the first time that the federal government conducts a nationwide, "top-to-bottom" test.

EAS serves as the nation's public warning system.  The test will last for approximately three minutes on all over-the-air broadcasts, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) providers and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers.

While state and local authorities typically utilize EAS for weather-related emergencies and public notices, such as child abduction alerts, it also serves as the primary means for the President to relay critical information to citizens during an emergency.

The test will consist of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) triggering the EAS "cascade" by transmitting the EAS code used for national-level emergencies to the first level of broadcast stations in the EAS, which in turn will rebroadcast the alert to the general public, as well as to the next level of EAS participants monitoring them.   The nationwide test is the beginning of a longer process aimed at improving national emergency alert capabilities.   While the federal government understands the tests can be disruptive, it recognizes the need to ensure the system works and establish a baseline from which it can be improved.

Go here for more information on the test. The National League of Cities (NLC) has also posted a FEMA toolkit for local leaders online here.