 "We want people to be aware of the test to avoid unnecessary
concern," said Jonathon Monken, director of the Illinois Emergency
Management Agency. "The test will be similar to those we hear
regularly on TV and radio. The main difference is that on Wednesday,
all TV and radio stations will be conducting the test at the same
time."The test is being coordinated by the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal
Communications Commission, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
EAS is a national public alert and warning system that enables
the president of the United States to address the American public
during extreme emergencies. Alerting authorities can leverage the
state and local EAS to send alerts and warnings to radio and
television stations, cable television, satellite radio and
television services, and wireline providers.
Dennis Lyle, president and CEO of the Illinois Broadcasters
Association, remarked: "I'm delighted to report that Wayne Miller,
Illinois EAS chairman, has told me that all of Illinois' stations
are ready to receive the test. It's important that listeners and
viewers remember at 1 p.m. Wednesday what they're seeing on their
screens and hearing on their radios is exactly what the script
suggests, "this is a test... this is (really) just
a test."
[Text from
Illinois
Emergency Management Agency file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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