Required weekly test of the emergency broadcast system - unnecessary?

@mommyboo (13174)
United States
October 24, 2012 4:46pm CST
I am sick of tv programs being interrupted by that 'BEEEP BEEEP BEEEP' noise followed by the words 'this is a required weekly test of the emergency broadcast system. If this had BEEN an actual emergency, the alert would have been followed by instructions or further information relating to the emergency situation'. First of all, I don't understand why they have to test it WEEKLY. If you have to test the annoying thing, can you test it MONTHLY so you stop interrupting programs with it so often? Second - I cannot for the life of me recall a time when an emergency broadcast or alert message was ACTUALLY MORE THAN A TEST!! Can any of you recall a time when it wasn't a test? The only incident I can think of would have been Hurricane Katrina... possibly?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@STOUTjodee (3572)
• United States
24 Oct 12
I think they do it more frequently nowdays to prepare us/get us use to it for when sh*t hits the fan. In our city we've even been hearing air raids/sirens for when people should be off the streets. We don't even have a curfew in this town. So why the air raids/sirens and the emergency alert system all the time?
@capirani (2497)
• United States
25 Oct 12
I don't know where you live but I have never had to worry about air raid sirens. We also don't have curfews either here except for youth and I am not sure if all cities or towns even have curfews for them. I would be nervous if I had to hear air raid sirens all the time. The only sirens here are the tornado sirens they test once a week at the same time each week so we know it is only a test. If that siren goes off at any other time we know to head to shelter from a bad storm. But the other emergency broadcast system tests on the television are like the tornado siren...a regular test to make sure the system is working and is nothing to be fearful of. It's something that has happened in this country for all of my life so I am used to it. In fact, now it is much less intrusive than it ever was when I was younger.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
26 Oct 12
I can actually think of several times that the EBS has been used for something other than a test, but I do have to say that those times that I can recall are few and far between. It is used in our area when there are extremely severe thunderstorms or tornado warnings and it is also used when there are Amber Alerts that have been issued. Even with this in mind, I don't really think it is necessary to test the system weekly. It clearly does work.
@34momma (13882)
• United States
25 Oct 12
OMG that is so annoying! and for me who sleeps with the TV on and that stupid noise comes on.... it's so ANNOYING!! I don't ever remember seeing these alerts so often. I don't even remember Katrina where they said this is not a test!!
@capirani (2497)
• United States
24 Oct 12
Every time you get a storm warning it is part of that emergency broadcasting system. If you live in the USA most likely your area tests it's tornado warning system weekly...well if you live in areas where tornadoes happen. They test it to make sure it is working. Believe me, if there were some emergency that you needed that system and it didn't work, you would be upset. Just remember, any severe weather warning, flood warning, or anything else that pops up on your television screen is part of that system. Mute it if you don't like it. But be glad you have it.