What is the Emergency Alert System (EAS)?
The Emergency Alert System enables the president to address the American people directly in the event of a national emergency. The system gives the president access to thousands of broadcast stations, cable systems and participating satellite programmers to transmit a message to the public. The EAS and its predecessor, the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS), have never been activated for this purpose. For the past 40 years, however, state and local emergency announcements have been transmitted through the system. Your local Emergency Alert System (EAS) radio or television station will be a primary source of information and instructions. You will receive specific instructions on what to do in your area. Remember that an emergency may affect each area differently.
