[fixed date] Emergency Alert System nationwide test Wednesday 2 PM Eastern

[kranky]

FEMA and the FCC are doing the first national test of the Emergency Alert System Wednesday. Just about every radio station, TV station and cable system will participate. Test may last 30 seconds up to 3 minutes.

There will be tons of calls to 911 systems by people who don't know it's a test.

[edit: corrected the date. Was given bad info from our facility manager!]

 

[DnetMHZ]

There will be tons of calls to 911 systems by morons.

Fixed that for ya.

 

[Jumpem]

It's tomorrow the 9th.

 

[Red Storm]

Shouldn't there be a system for alerting over the internet? Seems like a lot more people are on their phones/tablets/laptops/computers than on the radio or TV.

I don't know how they would go about doing it, just saying.

 

[Phoenix86]

It's amazing this is the first time for a nation wide test. Shouldn't this have been done, oh I don't know, when it was implemented?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Shouldn't there be a system for alerting over the internet? Seems like a lot more people are on their phones/tablets/laptops/computers than on the radio or TV.

I don't know how they would go about doing it, just saying.

This is why we are required to install the us government super usb key whenever accessing the internet, so they can alert us in an emergency.

 

[ussfletcher]

It's amazing this is the first time for a nation wide test. Shouldn't this have been done, oh I don't know, when it was implemented?

There is really no reason for a National test, local tests serve the same purpose.

 

[thescreensavers]

Something came up on my TV last night about a monthly warning test idk.

 

[vshah]

yeah, they need to alert reddit and 4chan

or maybe they don't care if we die.... CONSPIRACY?!

 

[Kev]

Why does the EAS even exist? If it wasn't even used on 9/11, what good is it?

 

[Phoenix86]

There is really no reason for a National test, local tests serve the same purpose.

Unless there was a need for a national alert, and there was a failure in the method used to communicate between the areas doing local test. Considering the primary reason for the EAS is for national alerts it should have been tested LONG ago.

 

[rudder]

So what happens if the chinese take out the directv satellite and I am not listening to the radio?

 

[Squisher]

skynet

 

[CPA]

spending millions of dollars on stupid ads for a stupid nationwide alert system that probably wouldn't be available to the people needed to be alerted.

 

[Matthiasa]

Funny thing is there hasn't been a single mention of it here on any station at all.

That said how would this be different then the already required emergency testing?

 

[Krazy4Real]

As long as they don't interrupt my internets, I'm fine.

 

[fjmeat]

It's tomorrow the 9th.

yup. tomorrow.
http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm

 

[Miramonti]

If any one of you are planning a major terrorist attack tomorrow at 2pm eastern, please lmk so I'm not sitting around like an idiot thinking this is just a stupid test.

 

[hclarkjr]

i bet the sale of aluminum foil has spiked so people can make their hats for tomorrow!!! :biggrin:

 

[ussfletcher]

Unless there was a need for a national alert, and there was a failure in the method used to communicate between the areas doing local test. Considering the primary reason for the EAS is for national alerts it should have been tested LONG ago.

If we lose the method to communicate between those responsible for the local alerts, then we are probably in a bad enough situation that it doesn't even matter, considering those that are responsible are typically large content providers, not a guy in a shack.

 

[spidey07]

Huh? I get a weekly test message on my weather radio.

 

[gevorg]

What if an emergency happens during the test? Will there be another broadcast like "The previous message was a test. This one is real! Run for the hills!"

 

[mnewsham]

I got a message that popped up on my phone about an hour ago asking me if i would accept national emergency messages.

 

[dainthomas]

Why does the EAS even exist? If it wasn't even used on 9/11, what good is it?

Maybe it's for when Skynet nukes us. Of course Skynet will just deactivate it, so....

 

[davmat787]

Why does the EAS even exist? If it wasn't even used on 9/11, what good is it?

A week or two ago, a real EAS message was sent in my area for an Amber Alert that originated in Seattle. That might have been the first real EAS I have ever seen.