Don't panic! FEMA urges Americans not to worry as national alert system is tested


Daily Mail
November 9, 2011

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are spearheading an aggressive public education campaign reminding Americans not to panic when they lose television and radio service for a few minutes on Wednesday during a test of the Emergency Alert System.
Although the public alert mechanism is decades old and often tested and used at the local level, it has never before been tested on a nationwide scale. 
This first-ever test will occur at 2:00pm EST on Wednesday, November 9 and will occur simultaneously across the U.S. and its territories, lasting up to three-and-a-half-minutes.
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PSA: FCC executive James Barnett reminds viewers not to to panic when they lose television and radio service briefly on Wednesday
PSA: FCC executive James Barnett reminds viewers not to to panic when they lose television and radio service briefly on Wednesday
The EAS is a national alert and warning system established to enable the President of the United States to address the American public during emergencies. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service, governors and state and local emergency authorities also use parts of the system to issue more localized emergency alerts.

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