The Virginia EAS Homepage

Virginia State Emergency Communications Committee

The Shenandoah Valley Local Area

LOCAL AREA PLAN

Scripts

A. Test Scripts and Formats

1. RWT

1. Stop regular programming
2. (Optional Announcement to audience identifying EAS tones as part of EAS test - Station / Operator discretion)
3. One second pause
4. Send EAS Header Code 3 times (Use RWT Event Code for this test)
5. One second pause
6. Send EAS End of Message Code 3 times
7. One second pause
8. Resume normal programming

2. RMT

1. Stop regular programming
2. Intro: "This is a test of the Shenandoah Valley Emergency Alert System."
3. One second pause
4. Send EAS Header Code 3 times (Use RMT Event Code for this test)
5. One second pause
6. Send EAS Attention Signal (8 to 25 seconds)
7. Read Test script: "This is a test of the Shenandoah Valley Emergency Alert system. In the event of an Emergency, this system would bring you important information. "
8. One second pause

9. Send EAS End of Message Code 3 times.
10. One second pause
11. Resume normal programming

Timing Note: The script above can be read in 8-9 seconds. All other elements of the RMT (the Header Codes and an 8 second Attention Signal) take about 25 seconds. The goal of writing this short script was to fit the entire test into 40 seconds. This will allow television stations to air the RMT followed by a 20 second promotional announcement in a 60 second availability. The promotional announcement should allow the EAS crawl to complete before normal programming resumes.

B. Real Alert Activation Script and Format

LP Stations

1. Stop Regular Programming
2. Optional Intro: We interrupt our regular programming to activate the Shenandoah Valley Emergency Alert System. Important information will follow."
3. One second pause
4. Send EAS Header Code 3 times (Use appropriate Event Code from list provided in this plan)
5. One second pause
6. Send EAS Attention Signal (8 to 25 seconds )
7. Activation Announcement: "We interrupt our regular programming to activate the Shenandoah Valley Emergency Alert System. The (Emergency Agency), has issued a (type of alert) for (list locales) effective until (list time).
8. Broadcast Emergency Message (additional info)." . Do not exceed 1- ½ minutes !
9. Termination Announcement: "This is the Shenandoah Valley Emergency Alert System.
10. One second pause
11. Send EAS End of Message Code 3 times
12. One second pause
13. Resume normal programming

C. Amber Alert Activation Script and Format

The standard script for this activation is contained within the State Amber Alert Plan. The script must be read in 90 seconds or less. This same script may be used for subsequent non-EAS rebroadcasts of AMBER alert information.

Consult the State Plan for additional information.