The Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) was established in 1963. It was replaced with the Emergency Alert System (EAS) nationwide on January 1, 1997. Like the EBS, the EAS is a warning system. It is to be used to provide the public with immediate messages that affect life and property. The most common reasons to activate the new EAS today include 9-1-1 system failures, tornado and other severe weather warnings, hazardous material incidents, evacuation orders, and other threats.The EAS is composed of broadcast networks; cable networks and program suppliers; AM, FM and TV broadcast stations; cable systems; and other entities and industries operating on an organized basis during emergencies at the National, State, or local levels. It requires that at a minimum all participants use a common EAS protocol.
Each broadcast station and many cable operators, have installed an FCC-approved encoder/decoder device capable of receiving the specially digitally coded emergency messages. The device can be automatically triggered to receive and disseminate national, state and local emergency messages. The equipment will make it possible to interrupt programming and disseminate an emergency message even if the station or system is not staffed full time.
Pursuant to Part 11 of the Federal Communications Commission Regulations, the Emergency Alert System (EAS) provides the President of the United States with the capability to provide immediate communications and information to the general public at the National, State and Local Area levels during periods of national emergency. The EAS may be used to provide the heads of State and local government, or their designated representatives, with a means of emergency communication with the public in their State or Local Area.
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is designed so that agencies with an emergency message need to give that message only once, and it will be received by all area broadcasters and cable operators simultaneously. A local plan is essential to establish the most efficient and effective way to communicate with the Local Primary stations or other broadcasters and cable operators in each area.
The EAS may be activated at the Local Area levels by broadcast stations and cable systems at their discretion for day-to-day emergency situations posing a threat to life and property. Examples of natural emergencies which may warrant activation are: tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, heavy snows, icing conditions, widespread fires, etc. Man-made emergencies may include: toxic gas leaks or liquid spills, widespread power failures, industrial explosions, and civil disorders.
EAS operations must be conducted as specified in State and Local Area EAS Plans. The plans must list all authorized entities participating in the State or Local Area EAS. Local Activation procedures: A local level request for activation may be directed to the Local Primary (LP) source by the National Weather Service, or local emergency management officials or their designated agent.
What is EAS?
EAS is the new Emergency Alert System adopted by the Federal Communications Commission to replace the old Emergency Broadcast System and will be a universal tool to route emergency messages to the public swiftly and efficiently. The EAS features a digital signaling technique that was developed by NOAA Weather Radio more than 8 years ago and is in use today. This means that broadcasters, cable-casters and NOAA will distribute emergency messages in exactly the same format with the identical signaling method, know as SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding.)
How will I use it to accomplish my organization's mission and benefit my community?
The new EAS has a "web" structure so that originators of emergency alert messages may be state and local authorities as well as national agencies. An emergency manager will be able to use the EAS system to originate emergency alert messages with details of "who", "what", "where", and "when" and will have access to all the entire emergency information super highway. This means that an emergency manager will be able to reach AM, FM, and TV broadcasters and cable operators in additional to other emergency organizations with a single transmitter rather than repeated transmissions or telephone calls.
How does an authorized person originate an EAS message for the community?
By contacting the designed LP-1 broadcast station for the operational area.
Will EAS make my job easier?
Yes, one simple transmission will alert public and emergency organization like a mailing label on a package to convey what the emergency is, who declared it, what areas are effected, and for how long.
Severity - will and EAS activation aid in reducing loss of life or reducing substantial loss of property. Is the situation a catastrophic natural or manmade emergency or disaster
Emergency Management agencies have acquired a valuable new tool in gaining access to all area broadcasters and cable operators via the EAS. However, if not used prudently, you put yourself in danger of losing this tool. Broadcasters and cable operators are expecting the EAS to be used only for life-threatening emergencies. Keep in mind two things. First, some broadcasters and cable operators may have their EAS Decoders set to the Automatic Mode. There is no one there to screen your message and decide if it should be aired. They are depending on you to only send an EAS Alert for a very serious emergency. The first time you trigger the system for a frivolous event, you will lose the confidence of your area broadcasters and cable operators.
The second thing to remember is that broadcasters and cable operators decide to participate in the local-level EAS on a voluntary basis. No one can force them to carry your EAS Alerts. All broadcast stations are required to transmit national emergency messages or - with FCC permission - to go off the air in the event of a national emergency. Although broadcasters' equipment can monitor state and local emergency messages, stations are not required to air any messages besides those of the President.
Maintain a good relationship with your local broadcasters and cable operators, and they will come through for you in a crisis.
Interruptions of programming can have detrimental financial ramifications to stations in terms of audience and sponsor dissatisfaction. Programming, after all, is the consumer product that stations sell to their audiences and sponsors.