Officials are prepping for this week’s statewide test of the Common Alerting Protocol-compatible test of EAS in West Virginia.
The two-minute alert begins at approximately 2 p.m. Eastern on Sept. 17.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the West Virginia Broadcasters Association, and others are involved.
Wednesday’s test will include radio, television and cable systems as part of the regular monthly EAS conducted by West Virginia broadcasters. This test, however, is a step towards conducting the next national test in 2015, and FEMA is asking EAS participants to enable immediate rebroadcast of the “National Periodic Test” code test message, we reported from the Radio Show last week.
The message will be sent out through FEMA’s IPAWS IP infrastructure. FEMA will also be monitoring message dissemination through wireless emergency alerts.
“During an emergency, federal, state and local public safety officials must be able to provide the public with life-saving information quickly,” said Damon Penn, assistant administrator of FEMA’s National Continuity Programs. #8220;This test will help us assess the operational readiness of the Public Alert and Warning System to ensure the residents of West Virginia have the information they need in the event of an emergency.”
