REMINDER: Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. ET

FEMA, in partnership with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will be conducting the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The EAS test plays a key role in ensuring the United States is prepared for any type of hazard, and that the U.S. public can receive critical and vital information should it ever be needed.

Here are specific items you need 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.