Receiving EAS Tests And Alerts

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is designed to provide a means to communicate information to the public during a national, state or local emergency. The majority of EAS activations are weather related and come from the National Weather Service. WKNC broadcasts emergency alerts for the following events: child abduction emergency (called an AMBER Alert), civil emergency message, evacuation immediate, flash flood warning, hurricane warning, nuclear power plant warning, tornado warning and tornado watch.

There is equipment in the Engineering room that monitors WQDR 94.7 FM and WDCG 105.1 FM 24 hours a day for EAS broadcasts. This is because WKNC does not generate its own EAS messages; we pick them up from the aforementioned stations. Because WKNC is automated at times, our EAS system is configured to send messages over the air without needing a live announcer. The EAS message will automatically override the audio console. Since the message does not originate from the board, a DJ will only hear it over the air monitor. Whenever you hear the EAS tone, make sure to pot down whatever music you may have on and pay attention to the message.

EAS Tests

To ensure the EAS system works properly, weekly and monthly tests are required. You will know the message is a test if you hear the following or a similar message after the EAS tone.

“This is a test of the North Carolina Emergency Alert System. This is only a test.  Broadcasters in cooperation with local, state and national authorities have developed this system to provide the public with important emergency information, should the need arise.  This concludes the monthly test of the North Carolina Emergency Alert System.”

If you receive an EAS test, upon its completion play or say a legal ID and resume regular programming.

EAS Alerts

If the message is an alert and not a test, you will hear the following or a similar message after the EAS tone.

“We interrupt this program to activate the (name of operational area or state) Emergency Alert System at the request of (activating official) at (time). Important information will follow.”

WQDR or WDCG will send a second tone that will last for eight seconds. Listen to the information that follows, you may want to jot down some notes. After the message concludes, air a legal ID and resume regular programming. Feel free to repeat the information at the next regular break. Use the computer in master control to keep track of any weather systems passing through the area. If you receive a tornado warning for Wake County, please notify anyone else who may be in the building. The Technician is often in production late into the evening, so always check. Building safety and evacuation procedures are posted in the studio.

The Raleigh Operational Area

The Raleigh operational area includes Wake, Johnston, Harnett, Lee, Moore, Chatham, Orange, Durham, Person, Vance, Franklin and Warren counties. This means you may receive an alert for something that seems of no consequence to you, but is still important to our listening area.

Wolf Alerts

In the event of a campus emergency, a designated university official will call the radio station hotline to request activation of a Wolf Alert by using this message: “This is [Caller’s Name] from the [Campus Police/Fire Department]. I am requesting broadcast of a Wolf Alert Emergency Communications Message. Please call back at [515-3000 for Police/515-2568 for Fire] to verify the authenticity of this message.” The caller does not need to use the exact script, but must provide his or her full name, department and return phone number so the announcer can match this information with the campus directory. While this may seem bothersome in an emergency situation, it is WKNC’s duty to protect its listeners from the broadcast of false or misleading information and we must take efforts to ensure the authenticity of any emergency notification message.

The following callers are approved to activate Wolf Alerts on WKNC: David Rainer (Associate Vice Chancellor, EHPS), Keith Nichols (Director, News Services), Tom Younce (Director, Campus Police), Jon Barnwell (Campus Police), Richard Potts (Campus Police), Jack Moorman (Campus Police), Daniel House (Campus Police) and Todd Becker (Emergency Manager, EHS).

When the announcer returns the call, the university official will provide the announcer with the nature of the emergency to select which Emergency Communications Message to air. The following situations have pre-recorded announcements, approved by both parties and available in the specialty tab in AudioVault:

• TORNADO
• HAZARDOUS MATERIAL
• ACTIVE SHOOTER
• ALL CLEAR
• TEST MESSAGE

If an announcer chooses to supplement the pre-recorded message with additional details (such as expiration times for weather warnings), he or she must write out the information first so it can be communicated clearly and calmly. Alerts for severe weather should always be verified with the National Weather Service at http://nws.noaa.gov/. It is fine to issue a Wolf Alert even if an EAS alert has already aired. Once the situation has been resolved, WKNC should receive another call on the hotline to request broadcast of the ALL CLEAR message. The ALL CLEAR message will be broadcast three times in a 15-minute period.