FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will conduct the first nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) Test.

It will take place Wednesday at 2 p.m.

Broadcasters, cable television systems, and satellite radio providers are all required by law to participate in the test.

FishbowlNY has learned that most, if not all, stations will halt regular programming to air the approximate 30-second test.

Among those we can confirm are WCBS/Channel 2, WABC/Channel 7, and public TV stations WNET/Channel 13 and WLIW/Channel 21.

On the radio side, stations participating include the Clear Channel cluster of WAXQ/Q 104.3, WLTW/Lite FM, WHTZ/Z100 and WKTU. Inner City’s WBLS is set to carry the EAS test.

Also on FM, Merlin Media’s newser WEMP is running the EAS test.

The CBS Radio New York cluster of stations, including WINS, WCBS-AM and WCBS-FM, will air the test.

The Emmis stations (Hot 97/WQHT and Kiss FM/WKRS) cover the EAS test on their air as well.
WEPN/ESPN 1050 breaks away from usual sports coverage.

Down the dial, WOR faced a dilemma.

“Our choice is to run it or sign off the air,” Tom Ray, the station’s VP/corporate director of engineering, tells FishbowlNY. Ray says they opted to join the rest of the country in the test.

FEMA says they need to know the system works effectively should public safety officials ever need to send an alert or warning to a large region of the United States