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Do not panic, it's only a test. Today at 1:00 p.m. CST is the federal government will conduct the first-ever national test of the Emergency Alert System through television and radio stations. The test is going to last only moments and will be similar to all the emergency alert tests you've seen and heard before. It's the first time a test of this magnitude has been tried and some fear it may spark mass panic because although the audio message states that it is only a test, the visual message may not.
Not even during 9/11 was an alert like this used. In a real emergency, the alert would be sent by the president to a number of radio stations, the Primary Entry Point stations. Those stations would then relay the information to other radio and TV stations. Then, the stations must discontinue programming and make the transmission lines open for the presidential message.
So, if you're driving in Fort Worth or Dallas around 1 o'clock, listen up for the alert-but don't get panicked and cause a car accident or anything, it's only a test.