Is The Nation's Emergency Alert System Actually Ready For An Emergency?

Press Release

A Congressional hearing on Wednesday will examine whether the nation's aging public alert and warning system, which dates back to the 1960's, is capable of notifying Americans of emergencies in a timely and comprehensive fashion.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the agency responsible for managing public alert systems at the federal level, and FEMA initiated a modernization effort in 2004. However, five years later, little progress has been made.

Wednesday's hearing was requested by U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), the top Republican on the Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee. Earlier this year, Diaz-Balart introduced the bill H.R. 2591, the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2009.

In conjunction with tomorrow's hearing, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) will release a report on the status of the alert system and the challenges in upgrading it.

The Subcommittee will receive testimony from GAO, FEMA, state and local officials, a public broadcast station, and representatives of individuals that are more difficult to reach by the existing alert system, such as those with impaired hearing.

Source