This is a message reprinted from State Of Massachusetts website regarding the nationwide EAS test on Wednesday November 9th at 2pm EST.
The United States Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have announced the first-ever national test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) will take place on Wednesday November 9th at 2:00 p.m. EST.
The EAS is a national alert and warning system established to enable the President of the United States to address the American public during emergencies. The National Weather Service, governors, and state and local officials also utilize parts of the system to issue more localized emergency alerts.
The purpose of the test is to determine the reliability of the system and its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential dangers nationally and regionally. Similar to the frequently conducted statewide EAS tests, the nationwide test will involve broadcast radio and television services, cable television, satellite radio and television services and wireline video service providers across all states and the territories of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.
On November 9th, the public will hear a message indicating, “This is a test.” The audio message will be the same for all EAS participants, however, due to the limitations in the EAS the video test message scroll may not be the same or indicate that “This is a test.” The text at the top of the screen may indicate that an “Emergency Alert Notification has been issued.” This notification is used to disseminate a national alert and in this case, the test. In addition, the background image that appears on video screens during an alert may indicate that “This is a test,” but in some instances there might not be an image at all. The test is expected to last approximately 30-60 seconds.
Election Day 2012
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Past Activities Sept.-Oct. 30th
Sharon CD has lacked blog entries the last few weeks, but here is an update of activities the department has done.
The EOC generator has been successfully installed in a indoor location below our garage. The move included plumbing a new gas line, electrical hookup, and a custom exhaust system. Also installed was a warning light that will turn on in our office. This light tells us when the generator fires its weekly test. We also have a light that turns on when the power to the building is on generator power.
Work continues on some ongoing projects town wide. Badging all town employees has been a goal of the LEPC and CD has taken the lead. Badging equipment is stored at the EOC, and a new workstation with computer, badging equipment and a laminator is ready.
A town wide radio reprogramming has begun. The Federal Gov't has told all public safety entities that they need to change their radios so they can add more frequencies in the bands. This requires to change all dispatch consoles, every truck, police car, fire truck and every handheld radio in the town.
This programming has been spearheaded by CD and programming of all Fire Department and Police Department has been completed. Work was done the second to last week in October. CD personnel used laptops and PCs to reprogram the radios. We used the Norfolk County Dispatch Radio Officer for help reprogramming the Fire Department radios. And CD members changed all Police Department Radios in house.
Sharon was effected by the Nor'easter on Oct. 29th. CD members were emailed on Oct. 28th, to monitor the weather and make sure our "Go Kits" were ready. CD members were put on standby Saturday night at 10pm. The next blog posting will have details of our deployment.
The EOC generator has been successfully installed in a indoor location below our garage. The move included plumbing a new gas line, electrical hookup, and a custom exhaust system. Also installed was a warning light that will turn on in our office. This light tells us when the generator fires its weekly test. We also have a light that turns on when the power to the building is on generator power.
Polimer and Traut installing the custom exhaust system.
Work continues on some ongoing projects town wide. Badging all town employees has been a goal of the LEPC and CD has taken the lead. Badging equipment is stored at the EOC, and a new workstation with computer, badging equipment and a laminator is ready.
A town wide radio reprogramming has begun. The Federal Gov't has told all public safety entities that they need to change their radios so they can add more frequencies in the bands. This requires to change all dispatch consoles, every truck, police car, fire truck and every handheld radio in the town.
This programming has been spearheaded by CD and programming of all Fire Department and Police Department has been completed. Work was done the second to last week in October. CD personnel used laptops and PCs to reprogram the radios. We used the Norfolk County Dispatch Radio Officer for help reprogramming the Fire Department radios. And CD members changed all Police Department Radios in house.
Radio being reprogrammed in 96:CD & FD shared Bucket Truck
Department of Public Works needs actual new radio to be in compliance with the order. In the next few months CD members will help install new radios in the needed DPW vehicles. Once the radios are installed, they will be reprogrammed to the correct banding.Sharon was effected by the Nor'easter on Oct. 29th. CD members were emailed on Oct. 28th, to monitor the weather and make sure our "Go Kits" were ready. CD members were put on standby Saturday night at 10pm. The next blog posting will have details of our deployment.
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