TOPEKA (KSNT) – Federal officials will be running a test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) later this month in Kansas and other states in the U.S.
Personnel with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that a nationwide test of the EAS will occur next week. Federal officials will run the test to determine how participating broadcasters and other communications providers receive and relay a national test message to the general public.
FEMA officials stated the test is scheduled for 1:20 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17. If the test is unable to take place on this date, a backup test date is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 3.
During the test, radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers along with wireline video providers across the nation will interrupt normally scheduled programming to run the test message. Once the test is finished, normal programming will resume.
“This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 2:20 to 2:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”
EAS message scheduled for release on Nov. 17
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State and local officials use the EAS to send critical emergency information, like weather-related and AMBER alerts, to impacted communities, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Alerts are made by authorized state, local and federal officials, usually through FEMA’s integrated public alert and warning system. You can learn more about the EAS by heading to the FCC’s website.
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