Crossville News First will be participating in the FEMA test of the Emergency Alert System today.  More importantly, you will be participating in the ‘online’ test of the EAS.  Once the Alert is transmitted to area radio and tv stations, we will post the EAS notification banner.  Our test will be to measure the number of viewers reached with the notification at a particular time of day (1:30 Central)  We ask that when you see the EAS notification banner published by Crossville News First, you simply click “Share” so it will appear on your friend’s Facebook news feed as well.

Although there is no official tie-in with the National Emergency Notification System with any ‘online’ service, more people are being reached at times through online services such as CNF than even radio or tv.  We feel there should be a system in place similar to the EAS for online information sources.  During the ice storm in February, CNF was virtually the sole source of important information for the first two days due to power outages, radio station tower collapse and other radio station employees unable to get to the studios for continual news updates.  On February 21st, at 6:21 am, CNF posted the first story describing the massive ice storm damage throughout the region overnight including the report from Bobby Randolph of VEC explaining the power outage would last a week for some due to so many power poles being broken in two.  That story reached 31,600 Crossville News First viewers.  A significant number of people considering about the only way to receive any information for many was from their smartphone linked to Crossville News First.