[Nfb-hi] FW: PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE EMERGENCY ALERT TEST

Mon Oct 31 23:37:27 UTC 2011

From: Debbie L. Jackson [mailto:debbra.jackson at doh.hawaii.ov] 
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 8:08 AM
Subject: FW: PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE EMERGENCY ALERT TEST 

Interagency Working Group,

Would appreciate your assistance in sending this announcement out to your
networks so people are aware of the November 9th test of the Emergency Alert
System.

Mahalo!

Debbie

Debbie Jackson
Planner/ADA Coordinator
DCAB
debbra.jackson at doh.hawaii.gov 
(808) 586-8121

Please help us get this message out to all disability groups and providers:

FIRST NATIONWIDE TEST OF THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
Test to Take Place November 9, 2011 at 2 p.m. ET

Dear Colleagues; 

FEMA wants everyone to know about the upcoming Emergency Alert System (EAS)
test and how it may impact them. Please share this message with your
communities and through your social networks.

.        FEMA Administrator's Message - In English
<http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6407>
http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6407 

.        FEMA Administrator's Message - In Spanish
<http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6408>
http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6408 

As part of our larger efforts to strengthen our nation's preparedness and
resiliency, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
will conduct the first nation-wide test of the Emergency Alert System on
November 9th, at 2 p.m. ET. Testing the Emergency Alert System plays a key
role in evaluating and improving the systems we need in place to ensure our
nation is prepared for all hazards and that people within its borders are
able to receive critical and vital information through the system, should it
ever be needed. It's important to keep in mind that this is not a pass or
fail test of the Emergency Alert System, but an opportunity to improve the
system on a national level.  Below we have provided a template for both a
press release and/or a newsletter that you can use in your organizations to
help inform your stakeholders, partners and continuances. 

The national Emergency Alert System is an alert and warning system
established to enable the President of the United States, if needed, to
address the American public during emergencies.  It is another critical
communications tool that can protect the public and strengthen our nation's
resiliency.  The National Weather Service, governors, and state and local
authorities also use parts of the system to issue more localized emergency
alerts.  The test is an important exercise in ensuring that the system is
effective in communicating critical information to the public in the event
of a real national emergency.

This national test will help federal partners and EAS participants determine
the reliability of the system, as well as its effectiveness in notifying the
public of emergencies and potential disasters both nationally and
regionally.  The test will also provide the FCC and FEMA a chance to
identify improvements that are needed to build a new, modernized, and fully
accessible Emergency Alert System.

To help inform, and support the distribution of this information, FEMA has
developed a toolkit of useful information which consists of the following
examples and video links with additional information about the test.  

If you have questions please contact the FEMA Office of Disability
Integration and Coordination at
FEMA-Disibility-Integration-Coordination at dhs.gov 

SHORT ARTICLE FOR NEWSLETTERS/INTERNET SITES

[You can use this content to place information on your websites or to create
newsletters about the test]

As part of their ongoing efforts to keep our country and communities safe
during emergencies, the Federal Communications Commission and Federal
Emergency Management Agency will conduct the first nationwide test of the
Emergency Alert System (EAS). The EAS test plays a key role in ensuring the
nation is prepared for all hazards, and that the U.S. public can receive
critical and vital information, should it ever be needed.  The first
nationwide test will be conducted Wednesday, November 9 at 2 p.m. ET.  This
test may last up to three and a half minutes, and will be transmitted via
television and radio stations within the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, the
territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
Similar to local emergency alert system tests, an audio message will
interrupt television and radio programming indicating: "This is a test."
When the test is over, regular programming will resume.  For more
information about the nationwide Emergency Alert System test, please visit
<http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6407>
http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6407 and www.FCC.gov
<http://www.FCC.gov> <http://www.FCC.gov> .   On November 9 at 2 p.m. EDT,
please remember: Don't stress; it's only a test.

.        FEMA Administrator's Message - In English
<http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6407>
http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6407 

.        FEMA Administrator's Message - In Spanish
<http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6408>
http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6408 

.        FEMA Press Release -
<http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=55722>
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=55722

.        FEMA Blog -
<http://blog.fema.gov/2011/10/emergency-alert-system-test-one-month.html>
http://blog.fema.gov/2011/10/emergency-alert-system-test-one-month.html

.        FCC Website -
<http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/emergency-alert-system-nationwide-test>
http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/emergency-alert-system-nationwide-test

  FIRST NATIONWIDE TEST OF THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
Test to Take Place November 9 at 2 p.m. EDT
[You can use this content to publish a release about the test] 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -   Today, [organization] announced that on November 9 at
2:00 p.m. ET, the federal government will conduct the first nationwide test
of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).  The test will last up to three and a
half minutes. During this period, regularly scheduled television, radio,
cable, and satellite shows will be interrupted as the system is being
tested.   [Organization] would like to ensure that [all of their customers,
members] and the larger public are aware that this event will be just a
test, and not a real emergency alert.  

[Insert quote from organizational representative about why they feel this
test is important for their audience] 

The test is being conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as part of their ongoing
efforts to keep the nation safe during emergencies and strengthen our
resilience against all hazards.

The national Emergency Alert System is an alert and warning system that can
be activated by the president, if needed, to provide information to the
American public during emergencies.  NOAA's National Weather Service,
governors, and state and local emergency authorities also use parts of the
system to issue more localized emergency alerts. The test is an important
exercise in ensuring that the system is effective in communicating critical
information to the public in the event of a real national emergency.  

Similar to emergency alert system tests that are already conducted
frequently on the local level, the nationwide test will involve television
and radio stations across the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, and
the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.

Under the FCC's rules, radio and television broadcasters, cable operators,
satellite digital audio radio service providers, direct broadcast satellite
service providers and wireline video service providers are required to
receive and transmit presidential EAS messages to the public. A national
test will help federal partners and EAS participants determine the
reliability of the system, as well as its effectiveness in notifying the
public of emergencies and potential dangers both nationally and regionally.
The test will also provide the FCC and FEMA a chance to identify
improvements that need to be made to build a modernized and fully accessible
Emergency Alert System. 

[Organization], along with FEMA, encourages the public to use this event as
a reminder that everyone should establish an emergency preparedness kit
<http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit>
<http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit>  and emergency plan
<http://www.ready.gov/america/makeaplan>
<http://www.ready.gov/america/makeaplan>  for themselves, their families,
communities, and businesses.  Visit www.Ready.gov  <http://www.ready.gov>
<http://www.ready.gov>  for more information about how to prepare for and
stay informed about what to do in the event of an actual emergency.

Thank you for your assistance in spreading the word about the November 9th,
2pm ET  nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System!

David Ball 
Disability Integration Specialist 
External Affairs Division 
FEMA, region IX 
1111 Broadway, Suite 1200 
Oakland, CA. 94607 
510-627-7141 office 
510-520-2813 cell