This is only a TEST

Factual Questions
1

For the next 60 seconds we will be conducting a test of the E.B.S.
If this were an actual emergency…"

Howcome - this system is never tested all at once?
Are they gonna interupt MTV, Gameshow Net and Race Events if this was a fact?

Suppose I have bad reception on the announced info station?

We’ve always heard they use sirens in Tornado territory - why not use the EBS or is it all tied in to a Federal button?

Or is this some pork project kept alive from the days of the Civil Defense Fallout Shelters?

2

Ah, yes, the Conelrad system

http://www.westgeorgia.org/conelrad/

Short form: it was feared that enemy bombers/missles would use commercial radio/tv transmissions as homing beacons - WWII technology, obsolete for decades, but still around.

Note: did not read the link, they may have a new “justification” by now.

3

Around here, OKC, they do use it all at once for tornados on the ground. Came in esp handy for the May 3rd, 1999, storm that spawned the F5, several F4’s, and about 3 dozen smaller tornados. As far as I recall, there was nothing else on from any local TV station, and most of the radio stations were tied into one of the big 3 tv stations.

It’s happened at other times, too. But always about tornados.This last Spring, I was driving along with my radio on, heard the annouce buzz, switched stations, there too, switched stations, there too. Figured it must be something real. It was. A tornado on the ground in the metro area.

4

Love it!

Well, we’ll damned well gonna find a use for it!

5

Well, the EBS hasn’t existed since 1994. It was replaced by the EAS, the Emergency Alert System, a joint service of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Weather Service, and the Federal Communications Commission. The EAS is intended to notify those resident in the area affected by an emergency. In 1997, the FCC eliminated the weekly on air tests you used to hear. Those tests were replaced by weekly internal tesing of the equipment, and monthly on-air tests. All radio stations are required to purchase and install the equipment as a condition of their licensing. I don’t know quite as much about the TV side, as I’ve never been involved in TV broadcasting, but I would think most if not all major stations are required to maintain the equipment.

The following two links give some more info on EAS. The second one is particularly cheery. Makes a great bedtime story for the kiddies.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/eas.html

http://www.fema.gov/rrr/rep/easrep.shtm

As for the sirens question, it’s quite simple- they use both. Sirens for folks who aren’t listening to the radio or watching TV, and the EAS otherwise. Many tornado prone areas have upgraded their simple sirens to massive area loudspeakers, to broadcast details of the situation. Now, if they announce an emercency, the EAS broadcast goes on ALL radio stations in the target area. Once upon a time, I got to drive through a tornado system in Indiana. Sirens going, all the radio stations on EAS, it was a blast.

The EAS certainly isn’t a pork product- it’s really one of the most commendable and justifiable functions of government. Even though WWIII isn’t exactly right round the corner any more, tornados, earthquakes, ice storms, and nuclear/biological/chemical accidents more than justify the expense.

And if you have bad reception, switch to another station. It’s not like they’ll just be broadcasting on one… they want to save everyone, from classical listeners to howard stern fans.

6

banks said: "I don’t know quite as much about the TV side, as I’ve never been involved in TV broadcasting, but I would think most if not all major stations are required to maintain the equipment. "

EAS is actually a provision in cable systems now. The regular TV station is overridden at the cable company regardless of what the station is broadcasting. At least, this is true in Motorola digital cable systems…don’t know about others.

7

In case anyone else is wondering, Conelrad is an acronym for “Control Of Electromagnetic Radiation” -sort of a military-speak synonym for “tinfoil-hat.”