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2011 National Emergency Alert System Test
Don't Stress, It's Only a Test!
NATIONAL LEVEL EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM TEST
November 9, 2011, 2PM eastern
As many of you are aware, on Wednesday, November 9th at 2:00pm EST, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in conjunction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System. The test will last approximately 30 seconds and will be transmitted via television and radio stations across the U.S.
The national Emergency Alert System is an alert and warning system that can be activated by the President, if needed, to provide information to the American public during emergencies. While the system is often tested in local markets (a test with which you and the American public may be very familiar), a nationwide test will be instrumental in evaluating and improving the system, should it ever be needed.
Over the past year, our agencies have been working extensively with our state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, and other critical stakeholders to help inform all members of the public regarding the nationwide test. Now, with the test less than a week away, we ask that you join us in efforts to educate the public about this important event.
You can help us in a number of ways: your principals and colleagues can help us spread the word; you can help us by updating your homepages through notification boxes, blogs and online videos; you can help in our Twitter campaign, in the days leading up to the test and during the test; post a Facebook notice about the test; and send notices to colleagues and key stakeholders.
If you get/ have questions, please direct them to FEMA, External Affairs: 202-646-4600 or FEMA-News-Desk@dhs.gov and/or FCC: nationwideEASTest@fcc.gov.
Below are talking points, too, that we hope will be helpful.
Talking Points
Pass the Word: Make Sure Your Community is Aware
- 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. The national Emergency Alert System is an alert and warning system can be activated by the President, if needed, to provide information to the American public during emergencies. NOAA’s National Weather Service, governors, and state and local emergency authorities also use parts of the system to issue more localized emergency alerts. The test is an important exercise in ensuring that the system is effective in communicating critical information to the public in the event of a real national emergency. It is a critical communications tool that can provide alerts, warning and information rapidly across multiple television and radio platforms.
- The test will last about 30 seconds and will look and sound very similar to the local tests of the Emergency Alert System that occur frequently.
- 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.
- In fact, this test will be critical to our efforts to build a modernized and fully accessible alert and warning system: the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System. Because the first step toward building a modernized Emergency Alert System means testing the existing technology, we expect there may be limitations in this initial nationwide execution. Identifying and eliminating these shortfalls is our top priority as we work to build a modernized and fully accessible system.
- Making the first nationwide test a success will require support from federal partners, state, tribal, territorial and local government, the private sector, non-profits, the faith-based community, and the general public. For months, the FCC and FEMA have been working together with all of the test’s participants, including broadcasters, satellite and cable providers to prepare for the nationwide test and to provide technical best practices.
- In the days leading up to the test we are continuing an aggressive public education and outreach campaign and asking all of our partners to join us. Our goal to make sure all members of the public know the test is happening and what to expect.
- Be sure to tell your family and friends about the test on Wednesday, November 9 at 2:00 PM eastern.
SHORT ARTICLE FOR NEWSLETTERS/INTERNET SITES
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. eastern. This test will last about 30 seconds, 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 www.FEMA.gov and www.FCC.gov. On November 9 at 2 p.m. eastern, please remember: Don’t stress; it’s only a test.
SOCIAL MEDIA RESOURCES
Visit FEMA’s EAS Test page for resources about the test: http://www.fema.gov/eastest/
The page includes:
- A video of Administrator Fugate explaining the test for hearing (includes a translation in American Sign Language).
- A video about the test that you can post in Spanish.
- A widget that can be embedded on websites to help spread the word.
- To note: a full page of content will be available in Spanish and there will be a link on the Spanish home page once it’s available (http://www.fema.gov/esp/ ).
Since we rely on the new tools available to us through social media, this is a list of content on social media sites that can be shared to help us spread the word: