Emergency Alert System Test

[Lamplighter]

Oregon Live.com
Nov 9, 2011

Where's the beep?
National emergency alert hits dead air in Oregon, southwest Washington

Today's test of the National Emergency Alert System fizzled in Oregon and Southwest Washington,
launching engineers on a hunt for the problem.
The National Emergency Alert System was created to give the president
a way to speak directly to the American public during a dire emergency.

Federal officials transmitted the 30-second signal at 11 a.m. as planned
to "primary entry point" stations in every state and U.S. territory.
The stations then relayed the simulated alert to radio and TV stations throughout their regions.

In Oregon, the signal arrived at Oregon Public Broadcasting studios in Portland,
where an apparent equipment failure ended the test before it started.
"Everything looked like it should have relayed the signal -- but it did not,"
said Becky Chinn, OPB communications director.
"It didn't go to other broadcasters, or even on OPB's air.
"Our engineers will spending the afternoon trying to figure out exactly what happened."

But the best remark was:

"Of course, this is why we do tests," Johnstone said.
"But why didn't we do this 20 years ago?"

.


ETA: Did the national Emergency Alert System mistakenly play Lady Gaga?

Christian Science Monitor

FEMA sent out a live emergency alert notification that was supposed to be
accompanied by a 'this is only a test' disclaimer Wednesday.
The disclaimer did not always happen.
Some observers said they heard a Lady Gaga song instead.