Television, Radio Stations to Participate in First-Ever National EAS Test

Connecticut television and radio stations will join broadcasters across the U.S. for the first-ever test of the nationwide National Emergency Alert System (EAS) Wednesday at 2 p.m.

The test is part of an effort to make sure that the national system is effectively in place in the event of a national emergency. It will involve a three-minute, or less, check of systems across the United States, according to staff with the Connecticut Broadcasters Association.

The test will be conducted and then regularly scheduled programming will return to air.

“Virtually all broadcast and cable TV programming throughout the nation will be interrupted with a standard emergency tone and message to last approximately 30 seconds,” said Wayne G. Mulligan, Vice President of Emergency Services for the Connecticut Broadcasters Association. “It is important that viewers and listeners do not become alarmed, as this will not be a true emergency, only a test for the National EAS System to evaluate the effectiveness of their system.”

The exercise will be conducted in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Communications Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in cooperation with broadcasters throughout the country, Mulligan says.

“The Emergency Alert System is a national public warning system that requires all TV and radio broadcasters, cable television systems, satellite and digital radio and television, and wireline video providers to make their communications facilities available to the President of the United States during a national emergency,” said Mulligan.

“This system provides a critical public service to the nation and our state as the resilient backbone of alert and warning when all other means of communication are unavailable," he said. "It is used to deliver critical emergency information to the public that will save lives and property and includes local Amber Alerts for abducted individuals and severe local weather warnings.”

The alert and warning landscape is in an important state of transition; from the current system of radio, television, cable, satellite and wireline broadcast media-based alerting to a future system that integrates new technologies for a more universal access to alert and warning messages.

Future testing of the EAS will assess the effectiveness and reliability of other technologies to achieve the ultimate goal of timely alert and warning to American public in the preservation of life and property.