Emergency Action Notification
Encyclopedia
An Emergency Action Notification (SAME
code: EAN) is the national activation of the Emergency Alert System
(EAS) and can only be activated by the President
or their representative (i.e. the Vice President
). The Emergency Broadcast System
(EBS) also carried the Emergency Action Notification. It has never been used by any President since its creation.
Unlike other messages, the EAN is not the alert itself, but rather a notice that the activation is beginning. After the End of Message
(EOM) tones are sent, normal programming does not resume. Instead, most stations will broadcast emergency information in a specific priority order. Messages from the President are always broadcast first. Next comes local messages, statewide and regional messages, and finally national messages not originating from the President (some documents refer to these as "messages from the National Information Center (or NIC)". While there is a SAME code for this type of message (NIC), there exists no FCC definition of the National Information Center) . When an EAN is initially received, and during any time a new message is not available, an FCC mandated standby script is to be used (and repeated). Other stations, which hold special permission from the FCC, will sign off until the end of the EAN. Normal programming cannot resume until the transmission of an Emergency Action Termination message (SAME code: EAT).
system). The EAN signifies of a national emergency, as the wording shows. The Office of Civil Defense
originally created the term for the national emergency notification enactment. FEMA soon took over after its creation.
Specific Area Message Encoding
Specific Area Message Encoding or SAME is the protocol used to encode the Emergency Alert System and NOAA Weather Radio's SAME Public Warning System in the U.S...
code: EAN) is the national activation of the Emergency Alert System
Emergency Alert System
The Emergency Alert System is a national warning system in the United States put into place on January 1, 1997, when it superseded the Emergency Broadcast System , which itself had superseded the CONELRAD System...
(EAS) and can only be activated by the President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
or their representative (i.e. the Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
). The Emergency Broadcast System
Emergency Broadcast System
The Emergency Broadcast System was an emergency warning system in the United States, used from 1963 to 1997, when it was replaced by the Emergency Alert System.-Purpose:...
(EBS) also carried the Emergency Action Notification. It has never been used by any President since its creation.
Unlike other messages, the EAN is not the alert itself, but rather a notice that the activation is beginning. After the End of Message
End of Message
End of message or EOM signifies the end of a message, often an e-mail. The subject of an e-mail may contain such an abbreviation to signify that all content is in the subject line so that the message itself does not need to be opened...
(EOM) tones are sent, normal programming does not resume. Instead, most stations will broadcast emergency information in a specific priority order. Messages from the President are always broadcast first. Next comes local messages, statewide and regional messages, and finally national messages not originating from the President (some documents refer to these as "messages from the National Information Center (or NIC)". While there is a SAME code for this type of message (NIC), there exists no FCC definition of the National Information Center) . When an EAN is initially received, and during any time a new message is not available, an FCC mandated standby script is to be used (and repeated). Other stations, which hold special permission from the FCC, will sign off until the end of the EAN. Normal programming cannot resume until the transmission of an Emergency Action Termination message (SAME code: EAT).
Background
The term "Emergency Action Notification" was created when the Emergency Broadcast System went into place in 1963. Before the mid-1970s, this was the only non-test activation permitted (the same rule also applied to the earlier CONELRADCONELRAD
CONELRAD was a method of emergency broadcasting to the public of the United States in the event of enemy attack during the Cold War. It was intended to serve two purposes; to prevent Soviet bombers from homing in on American cities by using radio or TV stations as beacons, and to provide...
system). The EAN signifies of a national emergency, as the wording shows. The Office of Civil Defense
Office of Civil Defense
The Office of Civil Defense was an agency of the United States Department of Defense from 1961-64. It replaced the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization. The organization was abolished on July 20, 1979, pursuant to Executive Order 12148. It was a predecessor to the Federal Emergency...
originally created the term for the national emergency notification enactment. FEMA soon took over after its creation.