FEMA Announces Date for 2017 National EAS Test
July 17, 2017
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has set a date for the next National EAS Test: Sept. 27. A secondary date in case there is an actual emergency or weather event that day is Oct. 4. The test will be conducted in the same way (IPAWS) that FEMA originated last year's test with both English and Spanish language text and audio.
On June 26, 2017, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) of the Federal Communications Commission released instructions for Emergency Alert System (EAS) participants to register for access to the 2017 EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS).
The ETRS was used successfully for the second national EAS test conducted last fall. However, based on experience with that test, the FCC has mandated that filers using the 2017 ETRS must use a single account. The PSHSB also stated in its public notice that it will release a further notice in July announcing the opening of the 2017 ETRS, and the date by which EAS participants must file their EAS reporting data.