topic Re: FEMA test in Community Chat

FEMA test

Imadickens — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:28:47 GMT

For the first time ever, a wide green banner and that annoying beeping alarm just ran on my tv! It said it was a test from FEMA in the case of an emergency! The hair on my neck stood up! I wonder if this is their way of letting us know that we are in more danger than usual! I might be overly alarmed as I was in NYC just a short way away from the Chelsea bombing! I remember the first time we were leaving Manhattan and while stuck in traffic I saw a news banner scrolling on a building saying the terror threat level had been raised to ...! I hadn't been aware there even was a terror threat level until then! I have always thought we get more of the broadcast tests right before an attack! But, I've never, ever seen this FEMA banner!

Re: FEMA test

JaneMarple — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:32:03 GMT

The same thing just happened on my television also, no big deal! This happens a few times a year.

Re: FEMA test

Trinity11 — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:32:33 GMT

@Imadickens wrote:
For the first time ever, a wide green banner and that annoying beeping alarm just ran on my tv! It said it was a test from FEMA in the case of an emergency! The hair on my neck stood up! I wonder if this is their way of letting us know that we are in more danger than usual! I might be overly alarmed as I was in NYC just a short way away from the Chelsea bombing! I remember the first time we were leaving Manhattan and while stuck in traffic I saw a news banner scrolling on a building saying the terror threat level had been raised to ...! I hadn't been aware there even was a terror threat level until then! I have always thought we get more of the broadcast tests right before an attack! But, I've never, ever seen this FEMA banner!

Yes, I had Quincy on and the banner was shown. I have never seen it either..

Re: FEMA test

MalteseMomma — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:36:05 GMT

This has been going on for yrs and yrs.,not to worry!

Re: FEMA test

cherry — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:38:49 GMT

I've never seen it, but given the state of things I probably soon will

Re: FEMA test

chickenbutt — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:39:23 GMT

Our cable co has 'EAS' things and I HATE HATE HATE them. (sorry for yelling) I really do hate them that much.

Anyway, one of those ran about that same time here, so it must have been the same thing you experienced.

9 times out of 10, here, it's some stupid 'oh no, it might rain 200 miles from here' krap.

Sometimes it's a child kidnapping thing. Sometimes it's just a 'monthly test' thing (which might not be so bad but they run about 3 times a week!). Sometimes it's a ridiculous weather thing. Never something severe like a tornado but stuff like rain or wind and it's usually somewhere else, to boot.

UGH! I wish you could opt out, but you can't. Furthermore, even if you are watching something you recorded it breaks in so you cannot avoid it unless the tv is OFF. That sound REEEEEEEEEEEE - it's like an exaggerated version, with 100x volume, of the old type of sounds when you cranked up your dial up internet. With tinnitis, this is beyond maddening. /rant

Re: FEMA test

karlam — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:42:18 GMT

They are on once a week where I am but not always the same day or time.

Re: FEMA test

MalteseMomma — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:43:26 GMT

@chickenbutt wrote:
Our cable co has 'EAS' things and I HATE HATE HATE them. (sorry for yelling) I really do hate them that much.

Anyway, one of those ran about that same time here, so it must have been the same thing you experienced.

9 times out of 10, here, it's some stupid 'oh no, it might rain 200 miles from here' krap.

Sometimes it's a child kidnapping thing. Sometimes it's just a 'monthly test' thing (which might not be so bad but they run about 3 times a week!). Sometimes it's a ridiculous weather thing. Never something severe like a tornado but stuff like rain or wind and it's usually somewhere else, to boot.

UGH! I wish you could opt out, but you can't. Furthermore, even if you are watching something you recorded it breaks in so you cannot avoid it unless the tv is OFF. That sound REEEEEEEEEEEE - it's like an exaggerated version, with 100x volume, of the old type of sounds when you cranked up your dial up internet. With tinnitis, this is beyond maddening. /rant

@chickenbutt

ours is usually just a test....Never has been an actul emergency...in fact I fell asleep last nite and at 3am that darn thing came on so loud I almost fell out of bed !!!!

Re: FEMA test

SANNA — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:43:47 GMT

They just interrupted the radio broadcast for a few seconds for the same reason.

I think they should be prepared in case of emergency. So do not be scared.

But since we live during crazy times just watch out and be aware of things around you.

Re: FEMA test

chickenbutt — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:46:09 GMT

Maltese Momma - the only ones we've had that I would consider an emergency have been the child abduction ones. I can understand that.

But most of ours are either the three-times-a-week 'Monthly Test' or the ones that warn about some benign weather event.

Re: FEMA test

esmeesmerelda — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:47:37 GMT

@Imadickens

Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test Planned for September 28

"September is National Preparedness Month. In addition to conducting the nationwide EAS test, FEMA and the FCC encourage individuals to take action to prepare now and throughout the year. While government plays a role, each of us - including individuals, organizations and businesses - has important things we can do to be ready for the unexpected. Take time this month to be better prepared by following these steps:

https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2016/09/26/nationwide-emergency-alert-system-test-planned-september-28"

Re: FEMA test

JaneMarple — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:48:04 GMT

@Imadickens I just googled "FEMA test" and they announce that it was a nationwide test for 2:20 today.

“The purpose of the nationwide test is to ensure that EAS remains an effective means of warning the public about emergencies,” according to a FEMA press release. “Periodic testing of public alert and warning systems helps to assess the operational readiness of alerting infrastructure and identify any needed technological and administrative improvements.”

The test message will be transmitted in English and Spanish.

It will be similar to the monthly tests, with one exception: the word “National” will be added to the test message.

Re: FEMA test

bri20 — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:48:34 GMT

I've never seen it.

It would alarm me, I think, for a second.

From time to time, I get weather alerts and Amber alerts on my iphone, and it always startles me.

Re: FEMA test

Trinity11 — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:50:50 GMT

@MalteseMomma wrote:
This has been going on for yrs and yrs.,not to worry!

I have never seen the fema alerts...

Re: FEMA test

chickenbutt — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:56:24 GMT

Jewel - At least you just get the banner. What we get is that, first, it changes the channel to some SD channel with Senate hearings (or something like that), Then the SCREECHING thing that continues on, then the screen is overtaken with this black screen with the white writing that scrolls through it twice. Then, it goes back to that SD channel and then back to the channel you were on.

If you were watching a recording, it just takes you to whatever channel was on the first tuner and you have to go back in to your recordings and go to what you were watching.

Re: FEMA test

LTT1 — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 19:27:05 GMT

@Imadickens@chickenbutt@SANNA@MalteseMomma@karlam

You all made me curious. So here is the scoop...

CBSNewYork: ADVISORY: FEMA to conduct nationwide test of Emergency Alert System at 2:20 p.m. EDT. This is only a test...

These loud things come on once per month around here but I never pay attention to what the banner says. This time, however, we have a new provider (Direct TV) and I couldn't find a button to push to get rid of that awful sound!

Not sure about the part of the terrorist alert, but on the 9/11 TV special we watched, it reported that since 9/11 the country has been at a higher terrorist alert status. (?)

Re: FEMA test

MalteseMomma — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:53:14 GMT

@chickenbutt

I have never had one with any specfic info.I would not mind at all if I got one like that. Being I am in the NYC ,NJ area I am surprised I have never gotten one like that. All mine have always been just a test!

Re: FEMA test

Imadickens — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:53:19 GMT

@chickenbutt wrote:
Maltese Momma - the only ones we've had that I would consider an emergency have been the child abduction ones. I can understand that.

But most of ours are either the three-times-a-week 'Monthly Test' or the ones that warn about some benign weather event.

When I saw the wide green banner, and hadn't seen it before, I was afraid it was an Amber Alert, which is why I actually paid attention! I get so upset when I know about those and I try to say a prayer right away that the child will be found unharmed! This one bothered me only because I'd never seen one like it before and it didn't say it was new, or going to be shown regularly. It did say it was a test, but I still wonder why they decided to start this now?

Re: FEMA test

bri20 — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:53:57 GMT

@cherry wrote:
I've never seen it, but given the state of things I probably soon will

What does that mean?

Re: FEMA test

moto — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:59:55 GMT

Here in San Francisco, we have an audible siren that sounds every Tuesday at noon, testing for emergency alert system - a callback to the days of Civil Defense when air raids were a concern for the West Coast. They have been in opearation since 1942.