Don't Touch That Dial: Govt. Tests TV's Emergency Alert System Today

This is a test. It's only a test.

That's what FEMA, the Federal Communications Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration want you to know when they broadcast the first nationwide Emergency Alert System Test at 1 p.m. today.

The EAS is the media-based system that alerts the public to emergencies on a local, state and national level. 

And it's just a test. Not a train derailment or alien invasion. The three government agencies are trying to "identify necessary improvements so that all levels of the system can better serve our communities and deliver critical information that will save lives and property," according to FEMA's website.

One note for residents: Comcast, the villlage's cable TV provider, is telling customers they might need to reboot their cable boxes in the rare case that service doesn't return after the test is over. Also, Comcast's on-demand video system will not work during the test, which means you can't catch up on last night's episode of Man Up! And when you think about it, that's probably a good thing for everyone involved.

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