Wisconsin television viewers and radio listeners may hear a special test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Tuesday, Nov. 17  at 3:20 p.m. It is part of a one-time, multi-state test of the EAS by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The test will last about one minute and will look like the normal EAS test that is conducted monthly. Wisconsin is one of six states participating in this test. Other states include Minnesota, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Nevada.

While the test is designed to look and sound like a normal EAS test experienced by the public on a regular basis, it will have several unique behind-the-scenes aspects. The test will be originated by a federal agency, rather than the usual state or local authorities, and it will be disseminated over FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). The alert is designed to test operational readiness of FEMA’s Internet-based national infrastructure that would be used in distributing the President’s national-level EAS message to radio, television and cable systems in times of disaster.