Emergency system testing tomorrow

Emergency Management officials are asking Floridians to take note that at 2 p.m. eastern standard time on Nov. 9, the federal government will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

The test will last for 30 seconds. During this period, regularly scheduled television, radio, cable, and satellite shows will be interrupted as the system is being tested. The Division aims to ensure that Florida’s residents and visitors are aware that this event is only a test, and not an actual emergency alert.

“In conjunction with our local, county and state agency partners, the Division wants to alert all residents to this important event, and make them aware of the significance of this system’s ability to deliver emergency notifications across the country,” said Bryan Koon, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “This test will provide important conformational data on the capabilities of the system should it ever need to be activated for an actual emergency.”