ST. CROIX — On Thursday, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) will conduct its first required monthly test on the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in partnership with local broadcasters and with the support of FEMA, VITEMA announced today.<\/p>\n
At approximately 10:00 a.m., audiences of participating broadcasters will hear an EAS test issued by VITEMA. Fifteen stations are slated to receive and broadcast VITEMA\u2019s test message.<\/p>\n
\u201cVITEMA is continuously working to enhance our public warning capability so that we can reach as much of the population as possible in the event there is an imminent threat to the territory,\u201d said VITEMA Director Mona Barnes. \u201cWith support from FEMA, we were able to complete the certification and training required to implement EAS. This means that VITEMA now has the ability to issue emergency information to the public across participating radio and televisions stations in short order.\u00a0 Thursday\u2019s exercise will allow us to determine whether the Emergency Alert System is operating the way it should.\u201d<\/p>\n
EAS is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service providers, and direct broadcast satellite providers to provide the communications capability to the President to address the American public during a national emergency. Local and state authorities also use the system to deliver important emergency information.<\/p>\n
“VITEMA also has the capability to use the Emergency Alert System to issue emergency information to wireless providers, however, Thursday\u2019s exercise will only test broadcast stations,” Ms. Barnes added.<\/p>\n
Broadcast stations participating in the EAS test, include:<\/p>\n
Ackley Media Group<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n JKC Communications<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n Reef Broadcasting Inc.<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n WEVI Life 102.1 FM<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n WGOD 97.9 FM<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n WIVH 89.9 FM<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n WLDV \u2013 Da Vybe \u2013 107.9 FM<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n WSTA \u2013 Lucky 13 1340 AM<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n WTJX- Channel 12<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n Representatives from FEMA\u2019s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) program are in the territory this week to support and provide technical assistance to VITEMA and broadcasters where needed.<\/p>\n \u201cI thank our federal partners and all of the broadcasters partnering with us to ensure the Emergency Alert System is operating efficiently,\u201d Barnes said. \u201cWe anticipate that there may be some glitches during Thursday\u2019s exercise but that is the purpose of periodically testing system \u2013 to address any issues before a real emergency occurs.\u201d<\/p>\n For more information contact Christine Lett, VITEMA Public Information Officer, at 340-713-6801.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ST. CROIX — On Thursday, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) will conduct its first required monthly test on the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in partnership with local broadcasters and with the support of FEMA, VITEMA announced today. At approximately 10:00 a.m., audiences of participating broadcasters will hear an EAS test issued by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":43375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[628,191,147],"tags":[5602,121],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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