Emergency responders gearing up for a nationwide Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert test will have to wait because of Hurricane Florence.
The test scheduled for Thursday afternoon has been postponed to Wednesday, October 3rd while the Federal Emergency Management Agency deals with the aftermath of the hurricane along the east coast. October 3rd had been designated as the back-up date, just in case.
Along with traditional over-the-air warnings, the wireless system will send emergency messages to cell phones. This marks the first nationwide test of the WEA system; the last national EAS test occurred in September of 2017.
Marion County Emergency Management Coordinator Jeff Anderson tells KNIA/KRLS News that on-air broadcasts remain the heart of the EAS setup.
“Absolutely imperative for us in public safety. KNIA/KRLS plays a huge role in that, as you’ve always have done,” Anderson says, “and we look forward to continuing that relationship and appreciate everything very much that KNIA/KRLS does for us in public safety.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency says the WEA test will take place at 1:18 p.m. on October 3rd; and then, the EAS test will be sent out at 1:20.