5 Things: This is Just a Test

Don't panic.

Keep that in mind, and here are five more things you need to know about New Jersey's participation in the National Emergcy Alert System Test, courtesy of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

1. The test will be approximately 30 seconds long and will look and sound very similar to the frequent local tests of the Emergency Alert System;
2. It will be transmitted via television and radio stations within the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa;
3. An audio message will interrupt television and radio programming indicating: “This is only a test,” though text may not indicate this same message on the screen on every television channel;
4. Organizations that serve people with disabilities or people with limited English proficiency should be aware that they may receive requests for information or assistance from broadcasters or other communications service providers and emergency managers in the days leading up to, during, and after the test; and
5. When the test is over, regular programming will resume. In the coming days, our agencies will be releasing additional information to help inform the public about this test. Resources, including videos in accessible formats, can be found at www.fema.gov/eastest.