National Emergency Test Scheduled for Nov. 9

A test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to officials at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

All television stations, cable providers and radio broadcasters must participate in the EAS test and viewers should expect it to last about 30 seconds, according to FEMA officials. There will be an alert audio message followed by a graphic on the television screen reminding viewers that this is a test.

According to the FEMA website the test is being administered in partnership with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as part of the first nationwide test of the EAS. The EAS test plays a key role in ensuring the nation is prepared for any type of hazard, and that the U.S. public can receive critical and vital information should it ever be needed.

For more information, visit the FEMA website at http://www.fema.gov/eastest/