EAS Test Update

Creative Commons via andyv24.blogspot.com

At 11:00 a.m., CRESA observed the national test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Here inside the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), staff watched the test over 6 televisions, KXL Radio and our NOAA Radio.

CRESA saw the video screen message on KATU, KGW and KPTV; however, there was no audio alert as promised. It appears there was no interruption of KOIN, NWCN or KXL Radio for this national test.

We want to share with you that the Emergency Alert System (EAS) is tested successfully every month in this region by local emergency management agencies and the National Weather Service for weather-based incidents. We have local confidence in this system AND it is only one of the four different methods that we use to share information with the citizens of our community.

We use the following systems to share information regularly with the public:

Flash Alert News:  This service sends our press releases to the news media.  People in the general public can subscribe to receive press releases directly through this site to receive alerts directly from agencies who use this system.  You can find out more about this site here: http://www.flashnews.net/pdx.html

Emergency Alert System:  This service, which was tested today, targets alerts over radio, television stations and NOAA Weather radios.

Community Notification System: This is our phone-based out-dial system for targeted geographic-based alerts). People throughout the Portland Metro area can find their local notification system by going to http://www.publicalerts.org/ to sign up their mobile and VOiP phones.  For more information on the CRESA phone notification system, read this webpage at http://www.cresa911.org/be-informed/

Social Media:  CRESA uses our Facebook Fan Page, Twitter Accounts (@CRESA for emergency alerts and @CRESATalk for alert plus preparedness) and our Blog at http://www.cresa911.blogspot.com/.
Remember, we exercise and test for a reason which is to find out if systems work BEFORE the disaster strikes. So, while we may not understand why or how today’s EAS system malfunctioned, there are many lessons being learned across the country.

Please share this with your friends and family. As always, if you have any questions about emergency response plans here in Clark County, CRESA is happy to assist and share our information with you.