First-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System encountered problems

[Jenna]

Problems were reported across the country during the first-ever nationwide test Wednesday of the Emergency Alert System, designed to allow the president to address the American people during a national emergency.
Some television and radio stations did not air the planned 30-second test at all. Some that aired it stayed with the signal longer than others.
There were anecdotal reports of TV stations failing to air the message in Washington, Atlanta, New York, California and elsewhere. The message did not air on a cable channel being monitored in a Capitol Hill office and in the Capitol's radio and TV gallery.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission, which ordered the test, stressed that it was designed to find flaws, and scoffed at reports the system had failed.
By late Wednesday afternoon, an FCC official, not authorized to speak on the record, said about one-third of the test participants had filed preliminary reports, and those showed that 80% to 90% of the stations received the alert and were able to rebroadcast it, which was the major criteria of the test.

But the Emergency Alert System could serve as a "last ditch 'reassurance' that the government is still up and running," noted Richard Rudman, vice chair of the California EAS State Emergency Communications Committee. Rudman called the test "useful."
Hern and others say an upgraded warning system FEMA is developing will be of greater reliability.

More here: First nationwide Emergency Alert System test hits glitches - CNN.com

[Five-0]

I'm sure the feds will do much better with healthcare.