Emergency alert system test being conducted today
The federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct the nation’s first-ever emergency alert system test at 2 p.m. today.
The purpose of the test is to help determine if the national-level system will work as designed, should officials ever need to send a national alert. The test will last about three minutes and will be seen on all local, cable and satellite television stations across the country, as well as radio.
“Atlantic Broadband programming will be temporarily interrupted. However, as soon as the test ends, you will be returned to your regularly scheduled programming,” said Dave Dane, senior vice president of operations for Atlantic Broadband. “While we do not anticipate service issues following the test, in some cases customers may need to reboot their digital receiver. There may also be interruptions to DVR recordings in progress at the time of the test,” continued Dane.
“We don’t anticipate technical issues as a result of the test, our concern is primarily to let the public know about the test, so it doesn’t take them by surprise and lead them to believe there is a national emergency,” said Chuck Sorchilla, vice president of technical operations for Atlantic Broadband.
To learn more about the national EAS test, visit FEMA online at http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm or the FCC website at http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/emergency-alert-system-nationwide-test