Politics & Government

Don't Worry, Nationwide TV Blackout Is Just a Test

Televisions will black out in the whole country at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time for the first nationwide Emergency Alert System test today, Nov. 9.

From Hillsborough County Government Online:

At 2 p.m. today, Nov. 9, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

Regularly-scheduled TV, radio, cable and satellite programs will be briefly interrupted as the system is being tested. The test is expected to last about 30 seconds.

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At that time, an announcement will appear on all television and radio stations indicating “This is a test of the Emergency Alert System.”

Although the activation will include an audio and visual announcement on all television stations, the visual message may not appear on every television channel, especially for cable subscribers, due to technical limitations.

Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This is the first time the EAS will broadcast a test on all radio and television systems across the United States at the same time.

This full test of the EAS will help the federal partners and EAS participants determine the reliability of the system and its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential dangers nationally and regionally.

As Hillsborough County government prepares for and tests their capabilities, this event serves as a reminder that everyone should establish an emergency preparedness kit and emergency plan for themselves, their families, communities, and businesses.

For more information, visit: fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm.


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