FEMA and FCC plan nationwide emergency alert test for Oct. 4

WASHINGTON — FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communicationsm Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this fall.

The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities.

Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test to all cellular devices. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.

The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.

FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and to maximize the public safety value of the test.

The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to wide - spread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11.

The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s ceive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:

Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesitaacción.”

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks. The WEA test will be administered via a code sent to cell phones.

This year the EAS message will be disseminated as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS-OPEN).

All wireless phones should re -

• Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message. For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

• Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del

WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies through IPAWS to participating wireless providers, which deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in geo-targeted areas. To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration.

Important information about the EAS test:

• The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and will be conducted with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers and wireline video providers.

• The test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. It will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.

(StatePoint) When the temperatures drop and the precipitation turns cold, efficiently keeping your home cozy and warm is likely a top priority.

As you make home upgrades this fall, be sure to use materials designed to withstand extreme weather events and which help manage indoor climate control. Doing so will mean greater comfort and more affordable energy bills, not only when it’s cold, but all year long.

As your first defense against all kinds of weather, your roof sustains a lot of wear and tear. Consider prioritizing durability, strength and weather resistance in a new roof by opting for metal. The good news? You can get a classic appearance with this material, thanks to updates in roofing technology. For example, the energy-saving metal roofing offered by ProVia has the textured appearance of natural slate or shake shingles, but is constructed of highly durable 26-gauge steel, for added strength and lifetime protection from wind, rain, hail and corrosion.

Is your home is ever drafty or chilly when the temperatures drop and the wind kicks up? The culprit may be insufficient insulation. Keep in mind that most wall insulation is placed only between the studs, and wall studs make up to 25% of the wall surface of an average home. You can fill in these insulation gaps with insulated vinyl siding that’s been tested and proven to increase the R-value (a measure of a material’s resistance to heat flow) of an exterior wall. One of the most energy-efficient exterior claddings on the market, CedarMAX insulated vinyl siding is one such choice that can help reduce your energy bills. Plus, its strong, rigid foam backing offers greater impact resistance against rain, hail, sleet and snow, making a siding upgrade a good project to consider before the first winter storm.

Windows

Windows are a common point of heat transfer, and as such, they play a huge role in the comfort of your home. It’s not often that you have to purchase windows for your home, but when you do, you’ll want to ensure that they deliver the best in energy efficiency and comfort. ProVia’s vinyl windows, for example, are ENERGY STAR-certified, to help keep your home warm in winter (and cool in summer).

You may not think about your interior decorating choices as something that could potentially improve your home’s energy efficiency, but many such updates will not only make your home look more cozy, they’ll actually help keep it warm. Thick area rugs are a good place to start, as they provide insulation underfoot. Likewise, cellular shades or Roman shades can help stop heat transfer around windows, and wall tapestries or fabric-like wallpaper can provide a touch more insulation on walls.

To learn more about building and renovating with comfort and energy savings in mind, visit provia.com. By selecting the right products during a renovation, you can prepare your home for greater comfort and energy savings in cool weather.

continued from page 2 takes money to put these things on folks. Let’s support them.

tains Jeep Jam. Now, the Jeeps hitting the forest service roads and such this weekend will not have to dodge a German Panzer tank or a Japanese banzai attack. More than likely a participant in this weekend’s adventures will dodge a rut on the trail or a wayward squirrel crossing a dirt road at Shady. The chance of danger is quite low.

What will be high though is the amount of fun to be had. The Ouachita Mountains Jeep Jam is in its second year and starts this Friday and ends Saturday evening. The concept was developed by Vernon and Tonya Bayne, two locals with a love of Jeeps and offroading. Last year’s event was a big success. If I recall correctly, over 90 Jeeps were registered.

This year the Bayne’s have turned over the duties of organizing the Jeep Jam to Pasha Watson and the Mena Advertising & Promotions Commission. If you have a Jeep you really should participate. You’ll ride backroads, see beautiful sites, get out amongst nature and socialize with like-mind people.

Putting on an event like this is comparable to herding cats. Its time consuming and takes a lot of effort. The $25 registration fee goes towards the expenses and helps to bring the Jeep Jam back again next year. It

Naysayers like to gripe that there isn’t anything ever happening in this town. Well, here ya go. If you don’t have a Jeep you can still come out and watch the Jeeps at Tapley Park, visit the vendors and attend the Jeep show. Support local events!

Ok, off my soap box and onto the Jam. The Ouachita Mountains Jeep Jam has a little something for every Jeep owner. Friday night, Oct. 6, there is a meet and greet on the north side of Mena Street. A portion of Mena Street will be closed between the intersections of Church Avenue and Janssen Avenue from 5:30-9 p.m. This includes the intersections at Port Arthur Avenue Maple Avenue.

Saturday, Jeep owners will gather on the south side of Mena Street where the Poker Run through the mountains begins downtown on Mena Street with stops at Thibodeaux’s Country Store in Shady, The Big Fork Mall, The Cherry Hill Country Store, and lastly at Tapley Park in Mena. There will be a Jeep obstacle course at Tapley Park, a Jeep show and live music.

It’s another home-grown event that the entire county can be proud of. Gather the kids. Load up and come to the Second Annual Ouachita Mountains Jeep Jam this weekend in Mena.