National alert test set today

WESTSIDE — The first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System will occur at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The test is being conducted jointly by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission and the National Weather Service, according to a news release.

The system is designed to transmit emergency messages from national, state and local agencies, via television and radio, to the American public about hazardous weather, child abductions and othertypes of emergencies, according to the release.

This test will assess the reliability and effectiveness of the Emergency Alert System to inform the public and also identify any areas for improvements in the operation of the system during a national emergency. While state and local tests regularly take place on a weekly and monthly basis, a simultaneous, nationwide test of the national Emergency Alert System “emergency action notification” code has never occurred, according to the release.

Wednesday was selectedby the federal agencies because it is near the endof hurricane season and before the start of severe winter weather. The time of 1 p.m. was selected to minimize disruption during commuter rush hours and to ensure that thetest occurs during working hours across several time zones in the United States, according to the release.

The test will last for approximately 30 secondsand EAS participants, including broadcast radio and television, cable television, satellite radio and other wireline video services, will carry the test message.