EAS Put to the Test

This week, the American broadcast world will pause momentarily for a national test of the Emergency Alert System. It will be the first system-wide check in the era of EAS.

The original broadcast alert system had the acronym CONELRAD, established in the Cold War Era under President Harry Truman. It even had its own patriotic theme music.

That system was put to the test in 1956. The messages that went out included detailed information about what to do in a nuclear attack.

AUDIO FROM TEST: “Even miles away, you may be exposed within seconds to a searing heat wave from the explosion.”

This week’s national test of the Emergency Alert System is supposed to be much less dramatic, says Whit Adamson, director of the Tennessee Broadcasters Association.

“You’ll hear about 30 seconds worth of probably pretty dull, ‘this is only a test kind of copy and don’t forget it.’”

In the event of an actual emergency, the President would be able to directly address the public.

Wednesday at 1 pm Central time the test will go out simultaneously over broadcast TV, cable and radio.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is conducting the national EAS test prior to implementing the next generation system, which will include mobile devices. FEMA says radio remains the best way to reach people, with an average of eight in each household.

In Tennessee, the message from Washington will be received by WSM and immediately relayed from its iconic tower in Brentwood to stations around the state.