Monday, Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert announced that on Wednesday, November 9, at 12:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST), the federal government will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The test will last about 30 seconds, but could go as long as three and a half minutes, during which regularly scheduled television, radio, cable, and satellite shows will be interrupted.
“The Emergency Alert System is a critical communication tool that allows emergency messages to go directly to the public through broadcast media,” Governor Herbert said. “We’re asking Utahns to sacrifice just 30 seconds of afternoon TV or radio to test the system.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have joined together in conducting this test as part of their ongoing efforts to keep the nation safe during emergencies and to strengthen our resilience against all possible disasters.
The national Emergency Alert System is an alert and warning system that can be activated by the President, if needed, to provide information to the American public during emergencies. NOAA’s National Weather Service, governors, and state and local emergency authorities also use parts of the system to issue more localized emergency alerts.
Governor Herbert encourages the public to use this event as a reminder that everyone should establish an emergency preparedness kitВ and emergency plan for themselves, their families, communities, and businesses.
Visit www.beready.utah.gov for more information about how to prepare for and stay informed about what to do in the event of an actual emergency.