Emergency Alert System

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Not to be confused with Wireless Emergency Alerts, Emergency Warning Broadcast system, Emergency Warning System, or Emergency Broadcast System.

Template:Infobox broadcasting network The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national warning system in the United States designed to allow authorized officials to broadcast emergency alerts and warning messages to the public via cable, satellite and broadcast television and both AM, FM and satellite radio. Informally, Emergency Alert System is sometimes conflated with its mobile phone counterpart Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), a different but related system. However, both the EAS and WEA, among other systems, are coordinated under the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). The EAS, and more broadly IPAWS, allows federal, state, and local authorities to efficiently broadcast emergency alert and warning messages across multiple channels.<ref>"Integrated Public Alert & Warning System". fema.gov. Federal Emergency Management Agency. September 18, 2018. Archived from the original on September 22, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2018. IPAWS provides public safety officials with an effective way to alert and warn the public about serious emergencies using the Emergency Alert System (EAS), Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA Weather Radio, and other public alerting systems from a single interface.</ref> The EAS became operational on January 1, 1997, after being approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in November 1994,<ref>"What is Conelrad? EBS? EAS?". Archived from the original on April 5, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2015.</ref> replacing the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS), and largely supplanted Local Access Alert systems, though Local Access Alert systems are still used from time to time. Its main improvement over the EBS, and perhaps its most distinctive feature, is its application of a digitally encoded audio signal known as Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME), which is responsible for the characteristic "screeching" or "chirping" sounds at the start and end of each message. The first signal is the "header" which encodes, among other information, the alert type and locations, or the specific area that should receive the message. The last short burst marks the end-of-message. These signals are read by specialized encoder-decoder equipment. This design allows for automated station-to-station relay of alerts to only the area the alert was intended for.

Like the Emergency Broadcast System, the system is primarily designed to allow the President of the United States to address the country via all radio and television stations in the event of a national emergency. Despite this, neither the system nor its predecessors have been used in this manner. The ubiquity of news coverage in these situations, such as during the September 11 attacks, has been credited to making usage of the system unnecessary or redundant.<ref name="Collins" /> In practice, it is used at a regional scale to distribute information regarding imminent threats to public safety, such as severe weather situations (including flash floods and tornadoes), AMBER Alerts, and other civil emergencies.

It is jointly coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The EAS regulations and standards are governed by the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the FCC. All broadcast television, broadcast and satellite radio stations, as well as multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), are required to participate in the system.

Technical concept

Main article: Specific Area Message Encoding

Messages in the EAS are composed of four parts: a digitally encoded Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) header, an attention signal, an audio announcement, and a digitally encoded end-of-message marker.

A Sage EAS ENDEC unit

The <phonos file="Same.wav">SAME header</phonos> is the most critical part of the EAS design. It contains information about who originated the alert (the president, state or local authorities, the National Weather Service (NOAA/NWS), or the broadcaster), a short, general description of the event (tornado, flood, severe thunderstorm), the areas affected (up to 32 counties or states), the expected duration of the event (in minutes), the date and time it was issued (in UTC), and an identification of the originating station.

There are 77 radio stations designated as National Primary Stations in the Primary Entry Point (PEP) System to distribute presidential messages to other broadcast stations and cable systems.<ref name="The National Public Warning System">"The National Public Warning System". FEMA.gov. May 12, 2017. Archived from the original on June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2017.</ref>

The National Emergency Message (formerly known as the Emergency Action Notification) is the notice to broadcasters that the president of the United States or their designee will deliver a message over the EAS via the PEP system.<ref>"Emergency Alert System 2001 AM & FM Handbook". Emergency Alert System 2001 AM & FM Handbook. United States: United States Federal Communications Commission. 2001. p. 4.</ref> The government has stated that the system would allow a president to speak during a national emergency within 10 minutes.<ref>"Emergency broadcasts can be hacked, US researchers say". BBC News. July 9, 2013. Archived from the original on December 22, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.</ref><ref>"'Hello, This Is Your President'". Radio World. February 2, 2010. Archived from the original on July 31, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.</ref>

List of Primary Entry Point stations<ref>"Power Outage Incident Annex to the Response and Recovery Federal Interagency Plans" (PDF). FEMA. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Operational area Station Citations
National NPR, PRN, SXM
United States Virgin Islands WSTA <ref>"Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency Annual Report 2011" (PDF). vitema.vi.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Puerto Rico WKAQ <ref name="fcc.gov">"PUERTO RICO EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM STATE EAS PLAN SEPTEMBER 2010". FCC. Archived from the original on December 9, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Maine WGAN <ref>"Emergency Alert System Plan for the State of Maine, revised November 2017" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
NH, VT, MA, RI WBZ <ref>"Emergency Alert System Operational Plan December 2000". FCC. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref><ref>"Massachusetts Emergency Alert System Operational Plan". FCC. Archived from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref><ref>"State of Vermont Emergency Alert System Plan" (PDF). vabnow.files.wordpress.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref><ref>"State of Rhode Island Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan, August 2017". Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Connecticut WTIC <ref>"Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan for Connecticut, V1.3" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
NYC, New Jersey WABC <ref name="ny">"New York State Emergency Alert System EAS Plan" (PDF). nysbroadcasters.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Northeast New York WROW
South Central New York WBNW-FM <ref name="ny"/>
North Central New York WHEN
Western New York WHAM <ref name="ny"/>
Delaware, Eastern PA WTEL, WHYY-FM <ref>"Delaware Emergency Alert Statewide Plan 2016". Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Western Pennsylvania KDKA <ref>"EAS Summit and PEP stations | Radio & Television Business Report". February 24, 2014. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
West Virginia WCHS <ref>"West Virginia Emergency Alert System Operational Plan". FCC. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Maryland WBAL <ref>"Rules for Activating the Emergency Alert System in Maryland for Broadcasters, Cable Operators, Emergency Managers and Others Concerned with Public Warning" (PDF). Maryland State Emergency Communications Committee. January 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
District of Columbia WFED <ref>"SBE Chapter 37 – Prior Meetings Page – AM Revitalization – WFED 1500 AM Transmitter". Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Eastern Virginia WTAR
Central Virginia WRXL <ref>"Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Alert System Plan". FCC. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Western Virginia WPLY
Eastern North Carolina WSFL-FM
Central North Carolina WQDR-FM <ref>"North Carolina Emergency Alert System State Plan" (PDF). North Carolina State Emergency Communications Committee. August 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Western North Carolina WBT
Western South Carolina WKVG
South Carolina WCOS-FM <ref>"EAS PLAN Jan 2004 rev 06 30 19.PDF" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Georgia WMAC, WSRV <ref>"State of Georgia Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan". May 1, 2015. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
North Florida WOKV <ref name="fl">Florida Association of Broadcasters[permanent dead link]</ref>
Central Florida WFLF <ref name="fl"/>
South Florida WAQI <ref name="fl"/>
Alabama WJOX <ref>"Alabama EAS Plan" (PDF). al-ba.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Mississippi WMSI-FM
East Tennessee WJCW, WJXB-FM <ref name="tn">"Tennessee Statewide Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan" (PDF). March 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Middle TN, SW Indiana WSM <ref name="tn"/><ref name="in">"Indiana State EAS Plan" (PDF). indianabroadcasters.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
West Tennessee WREC <ref name="tn"/>
Kentucky, SW Ohio, SE IN WLW <ref>"Kentucky Emergency Alert System New State Plan — Preliminary Summary". FCC. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref><ref name="oh">"State of Ohio Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan". FCC. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Northeast Ohio WTAM <ref name="oh"/>
Michigan WJR <ref>"Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan for the State of Michigan". FCC. Archived from the original on May 30, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
NW IN, Northern Illinois WLS <ref name="in"/><ref name="il">"State of Illinois Emergency Alert System State Plan" (PDF). ilba.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Southern IL, Eastern Missouri KMOX <ref name="in"/><ref name="mo">"Missouri State EAS Plan" (PDF). sbe55.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Wisconsin WTMJ <ref>"State of Wisconsin Emergency Alert System State EAS Plan" (PDF). sbe24.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 20, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Minnesota WCCO <ref>"Minnesota Emergency Alert System Statewide Plan" (PDF). dps.mn.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Iowa WHO <ref>"Iowa Public Radio" (PDF). legis.iowa.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Western Missouri, Kansas WHB <ref name="mo"/>
Arkansas KAAY
Southeast Louisiana WWL <ref>"State of Louisiana Emergency Alert System (EAS) Operational Plan" (PDF). broadcasters.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Northwest Louisiana KWKH
Central Texas KLBJ <ref name="tx">"Texas Emergency Alert System" (PDF). tab.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
North Texas WBAP, KSCS <ref name="tx"/>
Southeast Texas KTRH <ref name="tx"/>
West Texas KROD <ref name="tx"/>
Oklahoma KRMG
Nebraska KRVN <ref>"Nebraska State Emergency Alert System Plan" (PDF). ne-eas.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
North Dakota, South Dakota (secondary) KFYR <ref>"State Alert and Warning Plan" (PDF). ndba.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref><ref>"South Dakota State Plan For The Emergency Alert System" (PDF). sdba.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Montana KERR <ref>"State of Montana 2016 Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan" (PDF). des.mt.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Wyoming KTWO <ref>"Wyoming State Plan for The Emergency Alert System". FCC. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Colorado, South Dakota (primary) KOA <ref>"South Dakota State Plan For The Emergency Alert System" (PDF). sdba.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
New Mexico KKOB
Arizona KFLT <ref>"State of Arizona Emergency Alert System Operational Plan". FCC. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Utah KSL <ref>"Utah State Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan". img.ksl.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Idaho KBOI
Northern Nevada KKOH
San Diego area KOGO <ref name="ca">"State of California Emergency Alert System Plan" (PDF). caloes.ca.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
Southern California KFI, KNX <ref name="ca"/>
Central California KMJ <ref name="ca"/>
Northern California KCBS <ref name="ca"/>
Hawaii HEMA <ref>"State of Hawaii Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan" (PDF). dod.hawaii.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>
American Samoa WVUV-FM
Guam and Northern Marianas KTWG
Oregon KOPB-FM, KPNW <ref>sbe76[permanent dead link]</ref>
Washington KIRO <ref>"Participating National (PN) Monitoring Matrix". mil.wa.gov. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021.</ref>
Alaska KFQD <ref>"State of Alaska Emergency Alert System Plan". FCC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.</ref>

Primary Entry Point stations

The National Public Warning System, also known as the Primary Entry Point (PEP) stations, is a network of 77 radio stations that are, in coordination with FEMA, used to originate emergency alert and warning information to the public before, during, and after incidents and disasters. PEP stations are equipped with additional and backup communications equipment and power generators designed to enable them to continue broadcasting information to the public during and after an event.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" />

Beginning with WJR-Detroit and WLW-Cincinnati in 2016, FEMA began the process of constructing transportable studio shelters at the transmitters of 33 PEP stations, which feature broadcasting equipment, emergency provisions, a rest area, and an air filtration system. NPWS project manager Manny Centeno explained that these shelters were designed to "[expand] the survivability of these stations to include an all hazards platform, which means chemical, biological, radiological air protection and protection from electromagnetic pulse."<ref name=":5">"WLW PEP Station to Test New Studio Shelter". Radio World. October 22, 2018. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.</ref><ref name=":6">"FEMA Upgrading WLW". Radio Ink. October 22, 2018. Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.</ref><ref name=":7">"In Hardening EAS Lynchpins, FEMA Puts Confidence In Radio". Insideradio.com. October 25, 2018. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.</ref>

Communication links

The FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) "Provides Primary Entry Point service to the Emergency Alert System", and acts as an emergency presidential link into the EAS. The FNARS net control station is located at the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center.<ref>Merlin, Ross Z. (2004). "Communications Systems for Public Health Contingencies" (PDF). DHS/FEMA Wireless Program Management Team. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 25, 2008.</ref>

Once an EAN is received by an EAS participant from a PEP station (or any other participant) the message then "daisy chains'" through the network of participants. "Daisy chains" form when one station receives a message from multiple other stations and the station then forwards that message to multiple other stations. This process creates many redundant paths through which the message may flow increasing the likelihood that the message will be received by all participants and adding to the survivability of the system. Each EAS participant is required to monitor at least two other participants.

EAS header

Because the header lacks error detection codes, it is repeated three times for redundancy. EAS decoders compare the received headers against one another, looking for an exact match between any two, eliminating most errors which can cause an activation to fail. The decoder then decides whether to ignore the message or to relay it on the air if the message applies to the local area served by the station (following parameters set by the broadcaster).

The SAME header bursts are followed by an attention tone, which lasts between 8 and 25 seconds, depending on the originating station. The tone is <phonos file="1050Hz Tone.ogg">1,050 Hz</phonos> on a NOAA Weather Radio station. On commercial broadcast stations, a <phonos file="Emergency Alert System Attention Signal 20s.ogg">"two-tone"</phonos> attention signal of 853 Hz and 960 Hz sine waves is used instead, the same signal used by the older Emergency Broadcast System. These tones have become infamous, and can be considered both frightening and annoying by viewers; in fact, the two tones, which form approximately the interval of a just major second at an unusually high pitch, were chosen specifically for their ability to draw attention, due to their unpleasantness on the human ear. The SAME header is equally known for its shrillness, which many have found to be startling. The "two-tone" system is no longer required as of 1998, and is to be used only for audio alerts before EAS messages.<ref name="cfr47">"United States Code of Federal Regulations – 47 CFR 11.61 – Tests of EAS procedures" (PDF). access.gpo.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2014.</ref>[full citation needed] Like the EBS, the attention signal is followed by a voice message describing the details of the alert.

The message ends with 3 bursts of the AFSK "EOM", or End of Message, which is the text NNNN, preceded each time by the binary 10101011 calibration.

IPAWS

Under a 2006 executive order issued by George W. Bush, the U.S. government was instructed to create "an effective, reliable, integrated, flexible, and comprehensive" public warning system. This was accomplished via expansions to the aforementioned PEP network, and the development of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)—a national aggregator and distributor of alert information using the XML-based Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and an internet network. IPAWS can be used to distribute alert information to EAS participants, supported mobile phones (Wireless Emergency Alerts), and other platforms.<ref>"The Impact of IPAWS on Public Alerts and Warnings". www.govtech.com. January 17, 2011. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref>

Under an FCC report and order issued in 2007, EAS participants would be required to migrate to digital equipment supporting CAP within 180 days of the specification's adoption by FEMA. This officially occurred September 30, 2010, but the deadline was later delayed to June 30, 2012 at the request of broadcasters.<ref name=":3" />

The FCC has established that IPAWS is not a full substitute for the existing SAME protocol, as it is vulnerable to situations that may make internet connectivity unavailable. Therefore, broadcasters must convert CAP messages to legacy SAME headers to enable backwards compatibility with the existing "daisy chain" method of EAS distribution, providing a backup distribution path.<ref name=":3">Oxenford, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP-David D.; Tol, Jennifer; Frewer (February 10, 2012). "FCC revises emergency alert system rules; reminds participants of June 30, 2012 CAP compliance deadline". Lexology. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref name=":4">"FEMA Adopts Digital Message Format for EAS CAP Standard, Triggering 180-Day Clock for Compliance". Broadcast Law Blog. September 30, 2010. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref>

In December 2021, the FCC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking to prioritize the display of alert audio and text from CAP messages, in order to provide higher quality audio (rather than simulcasting the audio off-air from a radio station) and improve parity between the visual display and alert audio for the benefit of the hard of hearing.<ref>"FCC Seeks to Improve Accessibility & Clarity of Emergency Alerts". Federal Communications Commission. December 15, 2021. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.</ref> The rules were enacted in September 2022.<ref name=":11">Winslow, George (September 29, 2022). "FCC Updates Emergency Alert Rules". TVTechnology. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.</ref>

Station requirements

The FCC requires all broadcast stations and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPD), hereafter "EAS participants", to install and maintain FCC-certified EAS decoders and encoders at their control points or headends. These decoders continuously monitor the signals from other nearby broadcast stations for EAS messages. For reliability, at least two source stations must be monitored, one of which must be a designated local primary. Participants are to retain the latest version of the EAS handbook.

EAS participants are required by federal law to relay National Emergency Messages (EAN, formerly Emergency Action Notification) immediately (47 CFR Part 11.54).<ref>"Electronic Code of Federal Regulations". National Archives. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.</ref> Broadcasters traditionally have been allowed to opt out of relaying other alerts such as severe weather, and child abduction emergencies (AMBER Alerts) if they so choose. In practice, television stations with local news departments will usually interrupt regularly-scheduled programming during newsworthy situations (such as severe weather) to provide extended coverage.<ref>"Ohio Weatherman Fires Back at 'Bachelorette' Fans After Tornado Warning Interrupts Broadcast". The Hollywood Reporter. May 28, 2019. Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.</ref>

If possible, EAS participants must transmit the audio,<ref name=":11" /> and (where applicable) a visual display containing the extended text, from the associated CAP message.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

EAS participants are required to keep logs of all received messages. Logs may be kept by hand but are usually kept automatically by a small receipt printer in the encoder/decoder unit. Logs may also be kept electronically inside the unit as long as there is access to an external printer or method to transfer them to a computer.

System tests

All EAS equipment must be tested on a weekly basis. The required weekly test (RWT) consists, at a minimum, of the header and end-of-message tones. Though an RWT does not need an audio or graphic message announcing the test, many stations provide them as a courtesy to the public. In addition, television stations are not required to transmit a video message for weekly tests. RWTs are scheduled by the station on random days and times, (though quite often during late night or early afternoon hours), and are generally not relayed.<ref name="cfr47" />[full citation needed]

A Required Monthly Test (RMT) transmitted in New Jersey on April 15, 2014, as shown on a television set

Required monthly tests (RMTs) are generally originated by the local or state primary station, a state emergency management agency, or by the National Weather Service and are then relayed by broadcast stations and cable channels. RMTs must be performed between 8:30 a.m. and local sunset during odd numbered months, and between local sunset and 8:30 a.m. during even numbered months. Received monthly tests must be retransmitted within 60 minutes of receipt.<ref name="cfr47" /><ref>"State EAS Plans and Chairs". Federal Communications Commission. Archived from the original on April 16, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2014.</ref> Additionally, an RMT should not be scheduled or conducted during an event of great importance such as a pre-announced presidential speech, coverage of a national/local election, major local or national news coverage outside regularly scheduled newscast hours or a major national sporting event such as the Super Bowl or World Series, with other events such as the Indianapolis 500 and Olympic Games mentioned in individual EAS state plans.

An RWT is not required during a calendar week in which an RMT is scheduled. No testing has to be done during a calendar week in which all parts of the EAS (header burst, attention signal, audio message, and end of message burst) have been legitimately activated.

In July 2018, in response to the aftermath of the false missile alert in Hawaii earlier in the year (which was caused by operator error during an internal drill protocol), the FCC announced that it would take steps to promote public awareness and improve efficiency of the system, including requiring safeguards to prevent distribution of false alarms, the ability to authorize "live code" tests—which would simulate the process and response to an actual emergency, and authorizations to use the EAS tones in public service announcements that promote awareness of the system.<ref>"The FCC is changing up the country's emergency alert system to prevent another Hawaii incident". The Verge. Archived from the original on July 13, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.</ref><ref>"FCC PROMOTES EMERGENCY ALERT RELIABILITY" (PDF). FCC. July 12, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 6, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.</ref>

Nationwide tests

National EAS Test
Audio recording of the first national EAS test on November 9, 2011, as heard on WISN-TV in Milwaukee and the cable EAS of Charter Communications' Wisconsin headend.
Problems playing this file? See media help.
Seventh National EAS Test
An audio recording of the seventh National Periodic EAS test that occurred on October 4, 2023, heard on KEYC-TV in Mankato, Minnesota.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

On February 3, 2011, the FCC announced plans and procedures for national EAS tests, which involve all television and radio stations connected to the EAS, as well as all cable and satellite services in the United States. They are not relayed on the NOAA Weather Radio (NOAA/NWS) network as it is an initiation-only network and does not receive messages from the PEP network.<ref>"FCC Press Release: "FCC Action Paves Way for First-Ever Presidential Alert to be Aired Across U.S. on Nation's Emergency Alert System"" (PDF). fcc.gov. FCC. February 3, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2011.</ref><ref>"FCC Third Report and Order: In the Matter of Review of the Emergency Alert System" (PDF). fcc.gov. FCC. February 3, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 10, 2011.</ref> The national test would transmit and relay an Emergency Action Notification on November 9, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. EST.<ref>"FEMA, FCC Announce Nationwide Test Of The Emergency Alert System" (Press release). FEMA. June 9, 2011. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011.</ref><ref>Clayton, Mark (November 9, 2011). "Emergency Alert System: Why US is doing first national test now". Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on December 14, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.</ref>

The Federal Communications Commission found that only half of the participants received the message via Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, and some "failed to receive or retransmit alerts due to erroneous equipment configuration, equipment readiness and upkeep issues, and confusion regarding EAS rules and technical requirements", and that participation among low-power broadcasters was low. To reduce viewer confusion, the FCC stated that future national tests would be delivered under the new event code "National Periodic Test" ("NPT"), and list "United States" as its location.<ref name="fcc-16results">"September 28, 2016 Nationwide EAS Test". Federal Communications Commission. April 21, 2017. Archived from the original on June 8, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.</ref><ref>"The 2016 National EAS Test Will Be Different". Govtech. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2017.</ref>

A second national test, the first classified as an NPT, occurred on September 28, 2016 as part of National Preparedness Month.<ref>"Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test Planned for September 27 - FEMA.gov". www.fema.gov. Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2016.</ref><ref>"Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test Planned for September 28". Federal Communications Commission. September 26, 2016. Archived from the original on September 30, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2016.</ref> A third national periodic test occurred on September 27, 2017.<ref>"Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test Planned for September 27" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. July 14, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2017.</ref>

The fourth NPT occurred on October 3, 2018 (delayed from September 20, 2018, due to Hurricane Florence). It was preceded by the first mandatory wireless emergency alert test.<ref>"Mark Your Calendars: Next EAS Test Date Affirmed". Radio & Television Business Report. July 23, 2018. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.</ref><ref>Stracqualursi, Veronica. "'Presidential Alert': Trump text slides to October 3". CNN. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.</ref><ref>"Emergency alert test sounds off on mobile phones nationwide". Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.</ref>

The fifth NPT occurred on August 7, 2019, and moved up from past years to prevent it from occurring during the heart of the Atlantic hurricane season. The test focused exclusively on distribution to broadcast outlets and television providers via the primary entry point network to gauge the efficiency of alert distribution in the event the internet cannot be used.<ref>Ashworth, Susan (May 29, 2019). "Next Nationwide Emergency Test Set for August 2019". TV TTechnology. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.</ref><ref>"FEMA Sets August For 2019 National EAS Test With Focus On PEP Stations". Insideradio.com. May 24, 2019. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.</ref>

The sixth NPT was postponed to 2021 amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic "out of consideration for the unusual circumstances and working conditions for those in the broadcast and cable industry."<ref>"No National Test this Year for FEMA's Integrated Public Alert & Warning System". FEMA. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.</ref> The sixth test occurred on August 11, 2021, at 2:20 pm EDT.<ref>"FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for Aug. 11 Test Messages Will be Sent to TVs and Radios Along with Select Cell Phones That Have Opted-in to Receive Test Messages". FEMA.gov. June 11, 2021. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2022.</ref> This test involved the WEA system alongside television and radio.

As of 2022, as part of a clarification and streamlining of terminology used in messages, further NPTs will now be referred to in the test message as a "Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System" issued by the United States Government.<ref>"FCC updates new Emergency Alert System rules to improve more message clarification". Radioinsight.com. October 2, 2022. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.</ref> On May 3, 2022, it was announced that the seventh NPT would not take place during 2022, and instead occur in early 2023.<ref>"FEMA Says No National EAS Test is Planned for This Year". Insideradio.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2022.</ref>

On August 3, 2023, FEMA and the FCC announced that the seventh NPT would occur October 4, 2023 with a backup date of October 11, 2023. The test commenced just before 2:20 pm ET, and consisted of an alert on TV/radio as well as a WEA on all cell phones.<ref>"FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for Oct. 4, 2023". fema.gov. August 3, 2023. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.</ref>

Additions and proposals

The number of event types in the national system has grown to eighty. At first, all but three of the events (civil emergency message, immediate evacuation, and emergency action notification [national emergency]) were weather-related (such as a tornado warning). Since then, several classes of non-weather emergencies have been added, including, in most states, the AMBER Alert System for child abduction emergencies. In 2016, three additional weather alert codes were authorized for use in relation to hurricane events, including Extreme Wind Warning (EWW), Storm Surge Warning (SSW) and Storm Surge Watch (SSA).

In 2004, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) seeking comment on whether EAS in its present form is the most effective mechanism for warning the American public of an emergency and, if not, on how EAS can be improved, such as mandatory text messages to cellphones, regardless of subscription. As noted above, rules implemented by the FCC on July 12, 2007 provisionally endorse incorporating CAP with the SAME protocol.

In November 2020, Congress passed the Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement (READI) Act.<ref>Balderston, Michael (November 18, 2020). "House Approves Bill Bringing EAS to Streaming". TVTechnology. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.</ref> First sponsored by Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz in response to the Hawaii false missile alert, it amends the Warning, Alert, and Response Network (WARN) Act to require distribution of wireless alerts issued by the administrator of FEMA, and commands the FCC to establish a means of reporting false alerts, encourage the establishment of State Emergency Communications Committees (SECC) that would meet annually to evaluate their EAS plans, require the repetition of alerts surrounding "emergencies of national significance", and open an inquiry into the feasibility of implementing the EAS on internet-related services.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>Ashworth, Susan (July 23, 2018). "Sens. Schatz, Thune Introduce READI Act to Improve EAS". TvTechnology. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.</ref><ref>"New Law Would Put EAS Alerts On Repeat". Insideradio.com. December 18, 2018. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.</ref><ref>McNerney, Jerry (November 18, 2020). "Text – H.R.6096 – 116th Congress (2019–2020): READI Act". www.congress.gov. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2021.</ref><ref>"House Passes Emergency Alert-Focused 'READI' Act". Radio & Television Business Report. November 17, 2020. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2021.</ref>

Limitations

The EAS can only be used to relay audio messages that preempt all programming; as the intent of an Emergency Action Notification is to serve as a "last-ditch effort to get a message out if the president cannot get to the media", it can easily be made redundant by the immediate and constant coverage that major weather events and other newsworthy situations—such as, most prominently, the September 11 attacks in 2001—receive from television broadcasters and news channels. Following the attacks, then-FCC chairman Michael K. Powell cited "the ubiquitous media environment" as justification for not using the EAS in their immediate aftermath. Glenn Collins of The New York Times acknowledged these limitations, noting that "no president has ever used the current [EAS] system or its technical predecessors in the last 50 years, despite the Soviet missile crisis, a presidential assassination, the Oklahoma City bombing, major earthquakes and three recent high-alert terrorist warnings", and that using it would have actually hindered the availability of live coverage from media outlets.<ref name="Collins">Collins, Glenn (December 21, 2001). "The Silence of the Alert System; Experts Urge Overhaul of Plan Unused Even on Sept. 11". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 21, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2017.</ref><ref name="rwonline">Stine, Randy J. (September 26, 2001). "Terrorism Attacks Cue EAS Debate". Radio World. IMAS Publishing (USA) Inc. Archived from the original on October 24, 2001.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)</ref>

Following the tornado outbreak of March 3, 2019, Birmingham, Alabama NWS meteorologist Kevin Laws told CNN that he, personally, wished that alerts could be updated in real-time in order to reflect the unpredictable nature of weather events, noting that the storm system's unexpected change in trajectory towards Lee County resulted in only a nine-minute warning (the resulting tornado would kill 23 people).<ref name=":0" />

The trend of cord cutting has led to concerns that viewers' lessened use of broadcast media in favor of streaming video services would inhibit their ability to receive emergency information (notwithstanding availability of alerts on mobile phones).<ref name=":0">Wattles, Jackie (March 8, 2019). "Should Netflix and Hulu give you emergency alerts?". CNN. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.</ref><ref name=":1">"Senate Approves 'READI' Act To Inform Public In Emergencies". All Access. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.</ref> The READI Act called for an inquiry into the distribution of alerts via internet platforms.<ref name=":0" />

Incidents

False alarms

On January 13, 2018, a false alarm was issued warning of a missile threat to Hawaii.

Cybersecurity breaches

EAS equipment has been the subject of various cyberattacks, caused primarily by participants using insecure or factory default passwords on their encoders and decoders, and outdated software containing unpatched vulnerabilities. On multiple occasions, federal government departments have warned that failure to employ secure passwords and keep software updated made EAS equipment vulnerable to such attacks, which could result in disruptions such as false alerts.<ref>Goodin, Dan (August 5, 2022). ""Huge flaw" threatens US emergency alert system, DHS researcher warns". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.</ref><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10" />

Tone usage outside of alerts

To protect the integrity of the system, and prevent false activations, the FCC prohibits the use of actual or simulated EAS/WEA tones and attention signals outside of genuine alerts, tests, or authorized public service announcements, especially when they are used "to capture audience attention during advertisements; dramatic, entertainment, and educational programs" (even if the footage is documentation of an event where an actual alert was issued).<ref name=":2" /> Broadcasters who misuse the tones may be sanctioned (including being required to partake in compliance measures) and fined.<ref name=":2">Pedersen, Erik (August 16, 2019). "'Walking Dead', 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' & Others Hit With FCC Fines For "Misusing" Emergency Alert Tones". Deadline. Archived from the original on August 16, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2019.</ref>

In an opposite move, in 2013 the FCC granted a one-year waiver for a PSA pertaining to the Wireless Emergency Alerts system, with assurance that the tones used in the PSA contained a different set of codes designed not to activate EAS receivers.<ref>Stimson, Leslie (June 3, 2013). "ABA Tells Members It's Okay to Air New WEA PSAs". TV Tech. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.</ref>

Testing errors

See also

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References

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External links

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