Emergency Alert System to be Tested at 11 a.m.

For the first time ever, the Emergency Alert System will be simultaneously tested nationwide today beginning at 11 a.m. pacific time.  The test is a collaboration between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).

Although the Emergency Alert System has been used for past local emergencies such as earthquakes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters, FEMA says this is the first time the system will be used on a national level.

All radio and television broadcasts in Redondo Beach and across the country will be briefly interrupted during testing.  According to FEMA, the test will look and sound similar to the usual local tests and will only last around 30 seconds.

The message "This is a test" will be played and regular programming will resume shortly after.

According to FEMA, the system, which is now over 50 years old, needs to be tested to ensure the public can be alerted should a nationwide emergency occur.

"Recent weather events, from the tornado and earthquake that struck Oklahoma to the severe storm heading for Alaska, remind us that disasters can happen anytime, anywhere, and it’s critical that the public knows what to do in the event of an emergency," said FEMA administrator Craig Fugate.

To learn more about the test, visit FEMA's official website.