FEMA’s Penn discusses upcoming nationwide Emergency Alert System test

Damon Penn, FEMA’s Assistant Administrator of National Continuity Programs Directorate, joined Associate Editor Mary Rose Roberts to discuss the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, scheduled for Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. (EST). The EAS is a national alert and warning system used by the president to address the American public during emergencies and also is used by NOAA’s National Weather Service, governors and state and local emergency authorities to issue more localized alerts.

Penn has been with FEMA since 2004, where he served as the defense coordinating officer for Florida. There, he was part of the FEMA emergency response team, responsible for all Department of Defense assets, providing millions of pounds of relief supplies and other forms of support to assist the Florida emergency management effort. He also is a retired U.S. Army colonel.

In the podcast, Penn discusses the mechanics of the test, how it will be used to distribute presidential alerts and what the message would look like if there was an actual emergency. Penn also stressed the importance of developing continuity of operations plans, both in the public and private sectors.