The North Carolina Emergency Alert System (EAS) was established to provide the citizens of North Carolina advance warning and critical information during times of emergencies.  EAS works with the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons to deliver critical information during child abduction emergencies. The system can also, when needed, coordinate with National Weather Service's emergency notification system to deliver critical information in weather emergencies.

There are selected organizations in the public and private sector that are authorized to originate and activate the North Carolina EAS.  These organizations include the State Emergency Operations Center, National Weather Service, NC Center for Missing Persons, NC State Highway Patrol and selected radio stations that are strategically positioned throughout North Carolina.  These organizations also act as a network of back ups for each other. In the event one authorized originator is unable to distribute an emergency message another selected organization can respond.

In accordance with a Federal Communications Commissions mandate, North Carolina Emergency Management, in collaboration with other government agencies, developed the North Carolina Emergency Alert System State Plan.  This document outlines the organization and implementation of the North Carolina Emergency Alert System and gives guidance for participating organizations in the plan to follow. 

All broadcasters, including cable operators and soon to be announced satellite radio providers and the National Weather Service, must initiate a Required Weekly Test. These tests occur on random days and times, except for the week of the Required Monthly Test, to prove they can successful transmit an EAS tone to their listening audience.

The North Carolina State Emergency Operations Center must oversee the Required Monthly Test (RMT). This is necessary to test the transmission of a statewide EAS message.  The RMT are originated (started) by one of the selected organizations mentioned above and retransmitted throughout the State using a process commonly known as “daisy chains” as noted in the North Carolina Emergency Alert System State Plan.

« this page last modified 02/07/08 »