About 90 percent of EAS activations are generated by the National Weather Service (NWS) and concern weather events. The amended FCC rules add three new “event codes” that can be used to warn the public about the storm surges and extreme winds that may accompany hurricanes and other severe weather events.
The EAS national public warning system is used by broadcasters to deliver emergency information to Americans. The updated rules require EAS equipment manufacturers to integrate the codes into new equipment and will also enable EAS participants to update their existing equipment in advance of next year’s (2017) Atlantic hurricane season.
Further information about EAS is available at https://www.fcc.gov/general/emergency-alert-system-eas.
