Emergency Alert Test Wednesday

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Wednesday at 1 p.m., something will happen across the country that has never happened before.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a nationwide test of the emergency alert system.

The test is expected to last 30 to 60 seconds and will be heard on the radio as well as seen on local, cable and satellite television simultaneously.

The purpose of the test is to assess the readiness and effectiveness of the emergency alert system while identifying improvements to better serve our communities in the preservation of life and property.

Although the EAS is frequently used by the National Weather Service and state and local governments to send weather alerts and other emergencies, there has never been a national activation of the system.

NOAA weather radio will not carry or broadcast this national EAS test. The weekly routine test of the NOAA weather radio system was moved up to avoid conflicting with the National Emergency Alert System test on Wednesday.

For more information about the National Emergency Alert System Test, please visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency website at www.fema.gov .