Anxiety over upcoming test of US emergency system

AFP
Friday, November 4, 2011

It’s only a test, but nerves are somewhat frayed over the first nationwide exercise of the system designed to alert Americans of national emergencies.

The test occurs at 1900 GMT Wednesday, November 9, and may last over three minutes — longer than the typical 30 seconds or one minute for most broadcast test messages.

According to a message being circulated by local school and government officials, there is “great concern in local police and emergency management circles about undue public anxiety over this test.”

“The test message on TV might not indicate that it is just a test,” according to one email being circulated by a Washington area school district.

Full story here.

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