Emergency Systems
Texas broadcasters are first responders in times of crisis. Residents of communities all across the Lone Star State know to turn to their local radio and television stations when emergencies arise.
Broadcasters relay life-saving information through news programming and the Emergency Alert System (EAS). EAS is used by federal, state and local emergency managers and the National Weather Service to relay specific information to the public via radio and TV stations in times of emergency or when there is a threat of a weather incident.
EAS can relay emergency information on stations that don’t even have a newsroom.
The Texas State EAS Plan calls on broadcasters to deliver these important, emergency messages throughout the state’s 254 counties.
Texas broadcasters also developed other uses for EAS.
In 1997, Dallas-area broadcasters created the AMBER Alert program to relay life-saving information concerning child abductions. AMBER broadcast alerts heard on local radio and TV stations are directly responsible for the safe return of hundreds of children across the U.S.
Contact TAB’s Michael Schneider with any questions.