ReadyWisconsin Press Release: Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test on Nov. 17

For immediate release Contact: [email protected] WASHINGTON – When emergencies happen, every second counts. That’s why on Nov. 17, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is conducting a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System. On Nov. 17 at approximately 1:20 p.m. CST, radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers nationwide will interrupt normal programming with a test message. The message will state, “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”. The test message will include standard Emergency Alert System alert tones to support accessibility for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. The message may also be broadcasted in English, Spanish, or both, depending on station practices and audience needs. The test will last approximately one minute. When it has concluded, normal programming will resume. No action is required by the public. The test is routine and helps ensure the system operates effectively during emergencies. The test message will not be sent to phones through wireless emergency alerts. FEMA’s Emergency Alert System is a national public warning system made up of thousands of radio, television, cable, satellite and wireline video providers. The Emergency Alert System is one way that FEMA may use to distribute alerts during an emergency. FEMA is required by law to conduct a nationwide test of the public alert and warning system at least once every three years. These tests allow FEMA to identify technical or operational issues before the system is needed during an actual emergency. More information about Emergency Alert System is available on FEMA.gov. About ReadyWisconsin ReadyWisconsin is a public service campaign of Wisconsin Emergency Management, a division of the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs. In alignment with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s national Ready campaign, ReadyWisconsin aims to educate and empower Wisconsinites to prepare for and respond to both natural and human-made emergencies, while engaging the public and boosting basic preparedness statewide. For more emergency preparedness resources, head to readywisconsin.wi.gov or follow ReadyWisconsin on Facebook, X, and Instagram for tips delivered straight to your feed. ### To see this content online, copy the following link and paste in your browser: https://wem.wi.gov/nationwide-emergency-alert-system-test-nov-17 For more safety tips follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/readywisconsin), Twitter (www.twitter.com/readywisconsin) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/readywisconsin).