# 5949
This year has broken all records when it comes to federally declared disasters, with FEMA showing 93 major disaster declarations so far in 2011.
While some disasters - like Hurricane Irene - impacted a number of states, others were more localized events.
Later today FEMA, along with partners NOAA and the FCC, will conduct the first ever nation-wide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).
The EAS can be activated in the event of a national emergency by the President of The United States, and on a more localized level by the NWS to issue severe storm warnings, and by state governors and local emergency managers for more geographically limited emergencies.
With newer technologies such as satellite TV, cable TV, satellite Radio, etc. the task of alerting the nation during a crisis has grown considerably more complex.
So later today these agencies will conduct a brief (approximately 30 second) test across all broadcast mediums. This is only a test.
Here are specific items FEMA would like everyone to know about the test:
- It will be conducted Wednesday, November 9 at 2:00 PM EST.
- It 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 on all of this you can visit FEMA’s EAS TEST webpage.
While state and federal governments, along with the nation’s broadcasters, test their readiness, this is also a good time to take stock of your personal and business preparedness plans.
Should a major disaster occur, it could take several days before help might arrive, and perhaps weeks before essential services are restored.
Are you ready?
Do you have an emergency plan?
Do you have at least 3 days (a week or more would be prudent) worth of ready-to-eat food and water on hand for all family members and pets?
Do you have a good first aid kit and an emergency weather radio?
Could you, or your family go a week, or perhaps two without electricity or water?
To learn how to prepare, a good place to start is Ready.gov.
You’ll also find a long list of preparedness essays on this site by searching on PREPARE or NPM11.
