Wednesday EAS Test: Don't Call 9-1-1

This Wednesday, November 9th, at 11:00 a.m. PST is the National Test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).  This is the alert & warning system that you hear tested regularly on radio and television stations.

What is new about this test is that it is the first time in 15 years that the system will be tested all across the United States at the same time.  Typically, Clark County has issued county-specific tests as does all of our partner counties throughout the region.

Here are some important things for you to know:

• The EAS Test will occur at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time here on the West Coast
• It is expected to last 30 seconds.  (You may have heard that it would last over 3 minutes, but that has recently changed).
• It will disrupt programming on your televisions.  Comcast subscribers received notices about this, but in case you didn't read it too closely, check out their website at this link for the specifics related to your television viewing:  http://www.comcast.com/nationaleastest/
• Some people may not see a familiar banner or crawl across their television screens depending on the technology being used. Some people may only hear a voice during the test that says this is a test.
• Most importantly, DO NOT CALL 9-1-1.  As the FEMA video below explains, you may not see the regular crawlers across the television which could cause alarm.  As with any alert, pay special attention to the message which should confirm that this is only a test.  (If you do not see the video because you receive this via email, click here to see it:  http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6407)

One final note, for the communities that are deaf or hard of hearing, there is a special evaluation of how emergency alert information is transmitted to these communities. Emergency agencies are being encouraged to use the hashtag #demx during this EAS test so that social media can be evaluated for its effectiveness in reaching populations which may not hear the emergency alert.

For more information, please check out this link: http://www.reflexivity.us/wp/2011/11/deaf-tweet-to-teach-emergency-responders/ or follow @XpressiveHandz or @deaf_emergency on Twitter.