Be Aware, Not Alarmed: Wednesday Afternoon Emergency Alert Test Is Just That

Don't be alarmed by what seems like a crisis if your TV or radio is on at 2 p.m. Wednesday. It's only a test, as the familiar saying goes.

The federal government will activate its Emergency Message Alert system on all TV, cable, satellite and radio stations for the first time. "It's important that Michigan citizens are aware of the test," says the Michigan Cable Telecommunications Association director.

One reason for that heads-up is because cable viewers with sound muted could see  "Emergency Action Notification" on their screens without scrolling text that says "This is a test."   

Though Patch readers surely aren't lollygaggers glued to early afternoon TV or radio, some people keep a news channel or music station on while they work. So here's a preview of what, why and how long:

• Duration: Half-minute audio alert may be accompanied by text scrolling on screen. Reports about a three-minute test are based on old information.
• Will it seem scary?: It might, particularly for cable or satellite viewers with  audio off. "The video message scroll may not indicate 'This is a test,' " Comcast advises subscribers via email and a web page. "The video text is likely to inform viewers that authorities have issued an “Emergency Action Notification.”
  A federal FAQs posting confirms: "Although the activation will include an audio message indicating that this is a test, a visual message indicating that 'this is a test' may not appear on every television channel -- especially for cable subscribers." The reason has to do with "a live national code." Don't ask. 
• Purpose: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Federal Communications Commission want to check the warning network's reliability and effectiveness with the first nationwide alert. Until now, only 30-second statewide testing has been done monthly. "The national EAS test will help us improve its capabilities should it ever be needed at the regional or national level in an actual emergency," the government said.
• Why now: "The Nov. 9 date is near the end of hurricane season and before the severe winter weather season begins in earnest," according to the official explanation. The time of day is intended to "minimize disruption during rush hours, while ensuring that the test occurs during working hours across the United States."
• Avoiding panic: Spread the word to family members, friends and anyone who's hearing-impaired. "Help ensure no one becomes alarmed or overly concerned," suggests a Nov. 3 statement from Colleen McNamara, executive director of the Michigan Cable Telecommunications Association.
• Oakland leader says: The test "is a good reminder to develop an emergency preparedness plan or update your existing one," according to a Nov. 2 statement from County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. He suggests that residents, businesses, schools and communities have emergency food, battery-operated radios and evacuation kits.
• System name: Emergency Alert System (EAS), a name adopted in 1994 to replace Emergency Broadcast System in this era of wireless, cable and satellite communication.
• In true emergency: "A major disaster like an earthquake or tsunami could necessitate the use of the EAS on a regional or national basis to send life-saving information to the public," the government's posting stated. FEMA Administrator Craig Fugure adds in a Nov. 4 blog post: "The various disasters our country has faced this year underscore the need for effective and well-tested emergency alert and warning systems that could be used in a time of real national emergency, at a moment’s notice."
  Local alerts go out regularly about weather threats, toxic spills or fumes, child abductions and other situations.
• Test frequency: "A nationwide test will be conducted periodically to ensure that the EAS . . . remains functional," the government stated.