A video about the 2019 Emergency Alert System (EAS) Test that will take place on August 7, 2019.
[Transcript:]
A nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System will be conducted August 7, 2019, by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, emergency management officials, and Emergency Alert System radio, television and cable operators in all US states and territories.
This year’s test will evaluate FEMA and the FCC’s ability to deliver a nation-wide warning to the public to prepare communities in the event that internet connections are not working.
The broadcast of the test message will be about one minute and will look and sound like the regular required monthly test broadcast every month on your television or radio.
The audio message will start with “This is a test of the National Emergency Alert System” and end with “No action is needed.”
The written message on your TV will say “A Primary Entry Point system has issued a National Periodic Test for all of the United States beginning at 2:20 PM and ending at 2:50 PM.”
This is to make sure that Public safety officials have a process and system in place to send important alerts and warnings out to the public when an emergency or disaster happens. Testing the public alert and warning system periodically is required to make sure the infrastructure for broadcasting a national warning is ready and able to send the life-saving message successfully and help decide what improvements need to be made to prepare the nation for disasters and catastrophic events.