Heads up for tomorrow: Emergency Alert System test

At 11 am tomorrow, the first-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System will be seen and heard on a variety of media – over-the-air/cable/satellite TV, radio, etc. The test is scheduled to last about (updated) thirty seconds. Authorities are worried people will call 911 to find out what’s going on – so in a word, DON’T. According to the official federal info about the test, here’s what you will hear and see:

During the test, listeners will hear a message indicating that “This is a test.” Although the EAS Test may resemble the periodic, monthly EAS tests that most Americans are already familiar with, there will be some differences in what viewers will see and hear. The audio message will be the same for all EAS Participants; however, due to limitations in the EAS, the video test message scroll may not be the same or indicate that “This is a test.” This is due to the use of the live EAN code – the same code that would be used in an actual emergency. The text at the top of the television screen may indicate that an “Emergency Action Notification has been issued.” This notification is used to disseminate a national alert and in this case, the test. In addition, the background image that appears on video screens during an alert may indicate that “This is a test,” but in some instances there might not be an image at all.

Aimee November 8, 2011 (2:39 pm)

Thank you for covering this! People need to be aware that the government is slowly taking away our privacy and that’s unconstitutional. The EAS can come on at any time, on anyone’s T.V. or radio, even cell phone and start playing pro government messages. This system was put in to place in 1996 and is designed to slowly condition Americans in to accepting the government invading our personal space/lives.

Legalize Freedom!

Debbie November 8, 2011 (3:02 pm)

I don’t know about that Aimee. Just because it can come on my TV does not mean I will believe whatever message it says. Legalize common sense — take everything you read with a grain of salt.

B November 8, 2011 (3:36 pm)

Are you insane Aimee? This alert system is an upgrade to the cold war-era system designed for national emergencies, like nuclear war. There is no relationship to your privacy whatsoever. They are testing it, not sending campaign commercials.

AJL November 8, 2011 (4:03 pm)

Well, considering the fact that you may or may not be able to see it, maybe this system of indoctrination is not so foolproof?

Kermit November 8, 2011 (5:38 pm)

Aimee- is the government sending you secret messages through your milk carton also? If so, please google ‘crisis clinic’ and chat with one of
the nice folks there.

Kermit

PS-smash the state!

Tyler Durden November 8, 2011 (5:48 pm)

The BLACK HELICOPTERS from FEMA will accompany this event and we will all be taken to AREA 51 where the NEW WORLD ORDER will reprogram our VCR to DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME! Beware! Watch the skies!

MEJ November 8, 2011 (6:30 pm)

I’m with you, Aimee. And just between you and me, the government has been sending “elect Obama” messages to my microwave oven for some months now! Fortunately, the aluminum hat I hear prevents the government from getting into my head.

Melissa November 8, 2011 (7:03 pm)

How is protecting me from tsunamis and earthquakes mind control? I’m missing something here.

People need to be aware of the growing disparity between what the wealthy earn and what the bottom 75% earn. People need to be aware that 16% of Americans live in poverty and that many kids don’t have healthy food or safe homes.

Actually, people don’t NEED to be, I just think it would make for positive change if they were.

As for the EAS, it’s just nice to know that it’s not a real emergency. Let your neighbors and friends know, people.

Bob Loblaw November 8, 2011 (8:24 pm)

We probably won’t hear from Aimee again. Word is she’s been brought in for questioning in front of the Obama Health Care Death Panel. I for one will miss her. She used to pay me visits in my bunker every other day. She made great brownies.

Dc November 9, 2011 (7:34 am)

These comments are hilarious!!!

Kim November 9, 2011 (11:25 am)

Funny, I didn’t expect to laugh at the comments on this post! I actually have a “serious” comment:
–
Not everyone watches TV and listens to the radio all the time. Some people don’t do it at all anymore. I think the next step for the emergency broadcast system will be a way to broadcast a message via the interwebs and mobile devices.

WSB November 9, 2011 (11:46 am)

Kim, I completely agree. Aside from needing to write about it, the test was a non-factor for me because I usually sit here with only the computer on. Had the scanner off at that moment so I don’t know if the tone emerged anywhere there. Though services like WSB have no formal role in emergency information/coverage, we have participated with local emergency volunteers, and have equipped ourselves to do everything possible to continue publishing through winter storms, etc. – if all forms of Internet access are down, we’ll get involved in information distribution some other way, but otherwise, we have generators, multiple wired and wireless backups for Internet access, etc., and if I were the feds, I would have offered online publishers the chance to participate. – TR