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FEMA and FCC to conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System

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“This is a test,” is a message the nation will hear on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

The EAS is a national alert and warning system that enables the President to address the American public during emergencies or major disasters like an earthquake or hurricane. The NOAA National Weather Service, governors, and state and local authorities use portions of the warning system to issue more localized emergency alerts.

The national test will be similar to local EAS tests already conducted frequently. It will involve broadcast radio and television stations, cable television, satellite radio and television services, and wireline video service providers.

The test message will last approximately three minutes and will broadcast to all states and territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.

A national test of the Emergency Alert System will help federal partners and EAS participants determine the reliability of the system and its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential dangers, nationally and regionally.

Additional information on the Nationwide EAS test is available on the Ohio Emergency Management website, www.ema.ohio.gov.[[In-content Ad]]

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