Did You Hear the Tones?

If you were watching TV today around 9:30 a.m. here in Clark County, you might have seen or heard "emergency alert" tones indicating that a message might be forthcoming from the Emergency Alert System which goes out over the radio and television broadcast system. 

One of our alert CRESA employees noticed the beginnings of this on TV when she heard the tones, but there was no message broadcast. 

CRESA's Emergency Management Duty officer checked with the National Weather Service and learned that a message had been generated about today's 5.3 magnitude earthquake that occurred of the coast of Oregon; however, it was not intended to be broadcast.

We wanted to share this with you for two reasons:

• In case you saw this on TV and wondered what was going on
• And, to ask the question about whether you are prepared to receive these alerts?   

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is broadcast over television and usually through NOAA Weather Alert radios which turn themselves on when they are programmed with alert & warning messages.  Alerts may be generated both by your local Emergency Services agencies (like 9-1-1 and Emergency Management) and the National Weather Service.

Information on how to program and obtain NOAA Weather Alert radios can be found here:  http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrrcvr.htm

CORRECTED:  For alerts within Clark County, use FIPS Code #053011 and set it to channel 7 (162.550 Mhz) to receive most alerts within Clark County.