This Is Just a Test: Nationwide Emergency Broadcast Beep Tomorrow

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

At 2pm on Wednesday, November 9, all television and radio systems will broadcast the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). You may be familiar with the message and beep that is occasionally broadcast on the local level, but this will be a little different, and a little longer–up to three and a half minutes.

The national test will help federal agencies such as FEMA determine the reliability of the system and its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential dangers nationally and regionally.