The national test of the Emergency Alert System has become a near-annual tradition since the first one was conducted in 2011. But the Federal Emergency Management Agency says it will not conduct a nationwide EAS test in 2022.
“It will not happen this year,” said Antwane Johnson, FEMA’s Deputy Assistant Administrator. “We are planning to do that in the early part of ’23,” he announced at last week’s NAB Show. Johnson said FEMA is working to develop a new survey system that would allow the government to better monitor the results of the national test of the Wireless Alert System (WEA), which is expected to be tested alongside EAS in the coming year.
The survey would poll the public about whether they heard or saw the alerts. The information would then be shared with broadcasters and the wireless industry. “We can use that information to improve our alert and warning capabilities for the nation,” said Johnson.
