Chicago, IL  11/9/2011  (Streetbeat)  --  Beginning at 2 p.m. today Eastern Standard Time, there will be a first ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System.  For 30 seconds, citizens will hear and see "this is a test," during a dry run of the EAS conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission.  Initiated in January 1997 to replace the old Emergency Broadcast System, the EAS is a national alert and warning system that allows the president to address the nation during emergencies or disasters.

Today's test will include radio, TV and cable TV services, satellite radio and wireline video service providers.
Although the EAS is frequently tested and used in Michigan and other states, the system (including the EAS and old CONELRAD) has never been used on a nationwide level, including during the Cuban Missile Crisis, a presidential assassination, the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11 and natural disasters.

According to FEMA, Nov. 9 was chosen because it falls after the hurricane season, but before harsh winter weather begins.  A time of 2 p.m. was chosen because it falls between the two major rush hours of the day and is less likely to interfere with traffic.

For more information on the nationwide test of the EAS, visitwww.michigan.gov/emhsd. To learn more about preparing for an emergency, visit www.michigan.gov/beprepared.


From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20111109/METRO/111090400/Emergency-Alert-System-gets-first-nationwide-test-at-2-p.m.#ixzz1dE18qdHV