11/07/2011: "Emergency Alert System Test Wed"

The FCC and FEMA have announced that the first ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System will occur on November 9th, 2011 at 11:00 AM. The test is expected to last about one minute and should be heard on broadcast radio, television and NOAA weather radios.

This nationwide test will take the place of the regularly scheduled monthly EAS test. Listeners may notice a different test message or the extended length of the test and should know that this is part of the testing process as the capability to send a message nationwide over all broadcast media is tested.

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) was introduced in 1994 in partnership with private broadcasters as a means to send information to the public during emergencies.

The EAS, email, and text messaging are all utilized as part of San Juan County Emergency Management’s “Islands Emergency Alert System” to send warnings, or emergency information to the island community. To learn more about this test, or to sign up to receive Islands Emergency Alert System alerts, visit www.sanjuandem.net/alerts, or give a call to 370-7612 or on Orcas, 370-0587.