National Emergency Alert System Test Nov. 9

This is a test. This is only a test. So don't be alarmed if your TV and radio are interrupted for 30 seconds today.

At 11 a.m. today, Nov. 9, the federal government will conduct a nationwide test of the National Emergency Alert System.

Regularly-scheduled TV, radio, cable and satellite programs will be briefly interrupted as the system is being tested. TVs and radios will broadcast a series of tones followed by a message that describes the test.

The test is being conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as part of national emergency preparedness efforts.

According to the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, the test will be similar to tests most people are familiar with, but you'll notice some differences. The audio message will repeat “This is a test.” The video message scroll may not indicate “This is a test.”