Nationwide EAS test 11:00 a.m. in Oregon

As part of their ongoing efforts to keep our country and communities safe during emergencies, the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The EAS test plays a key role in ensuring the nation is prepared for all hazards, and that the U.S. public can receive critical and vital information, should it ever be needed.

The first nationwide test will be conducted Wednesday, November 9 at 2 p.m. ET. This test may last up to three and a half minutes, and 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. Similar to local emergency alert system tests, an audio message will interrupt television and radio programming indicating: "This is a test." When the test is over, regular programming will resume.

For more information about the nationwide Emergency Alert System test, please visit http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6407 and www.FCC.gov. On November 9 at 2 p.m. EDT, please remember: Don't stress; it's only a test.
· FEMA Administrator's Message - In English http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6407
· FEMA Administrator's Message - In Spanish http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6408
· FEMA Press Release - http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=55722
· FEMA Blog - http://blog.fema.gov/2011/10/emergency-alert-system-test-one-month.html
· FCC Website - http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/emergency-alert-system-nationwide-test

NATIONWIDE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM TEST

As part of our larger efforts to strengthen our nation’s preparedness and resiliency, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will conduct the first nation-wide test of the Emergency Alert System on November 9th, at 2 p.m. eastern standard time.

Testing the Emergency Alert System plays a key role in evaluating and improving the systems we need in place to ensure our nation is prepared for all hazards and that people within its borders are able to receive critical and vital information through the system, should it ever be needed.

It’s important to keep in mind that this is not a pass or fail test of the Emergency Alert System, but an opportunity to improve the system on a national level. Below we have provided a template for both a press release and/or a newsletter that you can use in your organizations to help inform.

For additional information and FAQ’s, please visit the FCC Web Site. If you have additional FEMA-Private-Sector-Specific questions, please contact our Private Sector Division Office at: FEMA-Private-Sector@dhs.gov.