emergency alert system
Public warning network
An emergency alert system is a network for broadcasting urgent warnings to the public about imminent threats—severe weather, natural disasters, AMBER alerts for missing children, or national emergencies.
In the U.S., the Emergency Alert System (EAS) interrupts regular programming with distinctive tones followed by automated voice messages: We interrupt this broadcast for an emergency alert.
The system evolved from Cold War–era civil defense networks designed to warn of nuclear attack.
- sirenWailing alert device
- air raidAerial military attack
- broadcastTransmitted media signal
- warningAlert about danger
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
this is a test · hurricane · severe weather · amber · evacuation · take shelter · announcement · beep · stand by · test · interruption · television · radio · tone · urgent · civil · defense · public safety
- broadcasting rulesFCC, broadcast license, broadcast spectrum, broadcasting license, license renewal
- weather alertsweather advisory, weather warning, storm warning, tornado warning, hurricane warning