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What Is a Civil Emergency Alert?

In the modern age, technology has evolved like never before, allowing millions to be alerted at a moment's notice should dangerous weather or other dangerous situation arise. The Emergency Alert System helps make this possible in the United States.

  1. Emergency Alert System

    • The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national warning system established in 1997 to replace the Emergency Broadcast System. It coordinates several federal agencies and, if necessary, allows the president of the United States to speak to the nation within 10 minutes. The EAS covers AM and FM radio, VHF, UHF and cable television, and satellite radio and television services.

    Function

    • The EAS is designed to deliver important notifications regarding emergencies and disasters around the United States, although its broadcasting can be localized to a specific region. Agencies like the National Weather Service or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can issue alerts regarding specific events in an area.

    Severe Weather Alerts

    • The EAS is often used to inform the public of warnings regarding severe weather, such as hurricanes and tornadoes.

    Civil Emergency Messages

    • A civil emergency message or alert is a non-weather-related emergency message. Some examples of such civil emergencies include, but aren't limited to, spills of toxic substances and nuclear accidents.

    Testing

    • The EAS is required to test the system on a weekly and monthly basis. While not currently implemented, plans are in place for periodical national testing of the system.

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