Nation-wide EMS Test

From Yahoo News:
"Emergency Alert System: Why US is doing first national test now"

Today at 2 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday Americans watching television or listening to the radio will see and hear a familiar sounding message: "This is a test of the Emergency Alert System. This is only a test...." This 30-second audio tone and message will sound like emergency test messages that local television and radio stations have broadcast for nearly 50 years. But Wednesday's test will be the first time the federal Emergency Alert System – a last resort means for the president to address the country in a national emergency – has been tested on a national basis. There are 14,000-plus broadcast television and radio stations, as well as 10,000-plus cable television systems in the EAS. The purpose of the test Wednesday, federal officials say, is to put that old system through its paces – to allow FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) "to assess how well the Emergency Alert System would perform its primary function: alerting the public about a national emergency."

^ I was watching TV at 2 pm today and when the EMS Test first started it was playing Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi." Not the most fitting song to announce a disaster to the nation. Apparently this test today didn't go as well as it should have. Many stations around the country either didn't do the test or didn't do it at 2 pm like they were supposed. I doubt that the EMS System will improve after today's results are analyzed. If something does happen people shouldn't rely solely on the EMS System or anyone but themselves. ^

http://news.yahoo.com/emergency-alert-system-why-us-doing-first-national-173954617.html