Emergency Alert System: 'This is a Test'

At 2 p.m. today, television, cable and radio will be interrupted for an Emergency Alert System test. An audio message will say, “This is a test.”

The test may last up to three and a half minutes. Regular programming will resume when the test is over.

This is the first nationwide test conducted by The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The national EAS is a public alert and warning system that enables the president to address citizens across all U.S. states and territories during extreme emergencies.

The EAS test ensures the public can receive critical information during an emergency.

For information about staying informed during an emergency, visit www.ready.gov or www.fema.gov/eastest.