(NOTE: The EAS test was conducted at 11:00 a.m. PST on Nov. 9, 2011.)
On Wednesday, November 9, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) will be conducting a nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) test. Although the EAS test is routinely conducted at a local level, FEMA says this is the first nationwide test to be conducted.
The 30-second test will involve broadcast, cable, and satellite televisions, and broadcast and satellite radios.
The test will also be conducted on the National Weather Service radio, meaning those with weather radios, citizen band (CB) radios, and scanners capable of receiving weather radio will hear the test.
During the test, there may be disruption in local radio and television programming. Some cable and satellite providers say the EAS test may disrupt digital video recording (DVR).
On some stations, the scroll may not announce that the EAS message is a test, which is why the announcement is being highly publicized.
FEMA says the test does will not include the Internet and mobile phones.
Remember, this is only a test that is expected to last 30 seconds and you do not need to take any action when you see or hear this test at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 9, 2011.
FEMA: http://www.fema.gov/eastest/index.shtm
NOAA: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/
Online Video:
Administrator Fugate and FEMA’s Neil McDevitt explain the test in American Sign language
FEMA’s Dawn Hart provides key information about the test in Spanish