Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) history was made when AlertSense when it delivered the first Emergency Alert System (EAS) test message broadcast in Spanish. The statewide test across Nevada in Spanish was a landmark achievement as it marked the first time these mandatory tests were provided in a language other than English.
The successful test confirms government entities can communicate important emergency information in more than one language to reach more citizens in times of crisis.
“We understand the importance of delivering important emergency information to as many people as possible,” said Dave Smith, CEO at AlertSense. “ By being able to provide messages in English and Spanish, we’re doing our best to ensure that more people are informed and know what to do in case of an emergency.”
The successful test means that should an actual emergency occur, information can be shared in both languages, helping to ensure that the message reaches more people in their preferred language. The messages were broadcast on television and radio stations across Nevada and some bordering counties in California.
“It’s the first time we’ve been able to offer our Spanish-language broadcasters the opportunity to carry this FCC-required test in their broadcast language,” said Adrienne Abbott, the state of Nevada’s EAS Chair. “This was not just a test for Nevada broadcasters, it was an important test for the AlertSense technology used by our state and local emergency managers, law enforcement and public safety officials to issue critical information.”
AlertSense is an alert-origination provider that equips states and local government authorities with technology to easily send EAS messages through FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS).
Learn more at AlertSense.
