Editing Emergency Alert System (section)

==Incidents==
<!-- Entries in this section MUST be attributed to reliable secondary sources, such as news articles. YouTube uploads and anecdotes are NOT usually considered reliable sources. -->

=== False alarms ===
* On April 21, 1997, several television and radio stations in [[Florida]], [[Hawaii]], [[Louisiana]], and [[Ohio]] mistakenly received a false Emergency Action Notification. Early indications pointed to a human error at the National Emergency Coordination Center in Virginia that routed a test requested by a relay for the [[Chicago Metropolitan Area]] to test out one radio station's then-new EAS equipment as part of the EBS/EAS transition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-BC-Engineering/Radio-World-Modern/2000/Radio-World-2000-09-27.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523232943/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-BC-Engineering/Radio-World-Modern/2000/Radio-World-2000-09-27.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 23, 2023|title=When The Emergency Alert System Goes Wrong|accessdate=May 24, 2023}}</ref>
* On February 1, 2005 in [[Connecticut]], an alert was [[2005 Connecticut false evacuation alert|mistakenly issued]] calling for the immediate evacuation of the entire state. The alert contained no specific detail on why it had been issued. The message was broadcast due to operator error while conducting an unannounced, but scheduled statewide test. A study conducted following the incident reported that at least 11% of residents actually saw the warning live, and that 63% of those surveyed were "a little or not at all concerned"—citing a suspicious lack of detail in the message, which a legitimate alert would include. Only 1% of those surveyed actually attempted to leave the state. [[Connecticut State Police]] did not receive any calls related to the incident.<ref name="courant-evac">{{cite news|last1=Pazinokas|first1=Mark|title=Connecticut Evacuation: False Alarm|url=https://www.courant.com/2005/02/02/connecticut-evacuation-false-alarm/|access-date=February 15, 2017|work=[[Hartford Courant]]|date=February 2, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215215406/http://articles.courant.com/2005-02-02/news/0502020861_1_evacuation-order-false-alarm-emergency-alert-system|archive-date=February 15, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ct-study">{{cite web|title=Public Reaction to the Erroneous Statewide Broadcast of February 1st, 2005|url=https://www2.gwu.edu/~icdrm/publications/CT%20Emergency%20Broadcast%20Final%20Report.pdf|website=[[George Washington University]]|publisher=Center for Survey Research and Analysis|access-date=February 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614214104/http://www.gwu.edu/%7Eicdrm/publications/CT%20Emergency%20Broadcast%20Final%20Report.pdf|archive-date=June 14, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=False Alarm, Connecticut Not Being Evacuated | url=http://www.westportnow.com/index.php?/v2_5/comments/false_alarm_connecticut_not_being_evacuated/ | publisher=WestportNow.com | date=February 1, 2005 | quote=State police said they received no calls related to the erroneous alert. | access-date=June 5, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402222723/https://westportnow.com/index.php?%2Fv2_5%2Fcomments%2Ffalse_alarm_connecticut_not_being_evacuated%2F | archive-date=April 2, 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref>
* On June 26, 2007 at 7:35&nbsp;a.m. [[Central Time Zone|CDT]], an EAN was accidentally issued in [[Illinois]], when a new satellite receiver at the state's EOC was accidentally connected to a live system before final internal testing of the new delivery path had been completed. The alert was followed by [[dead air]], and then audio from designated station [[WGN (AM)|720 WGN]] in Chicago being simulcast across almost every television and radio station in the Chicago area and throughout much of Illinois. A confused [[Spike O'Dell]], host of the station's morning show at the time, was heard on-air wondering "what that beeping was all about".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/Emergency.Alert.System.2.337932.html |title=Emergency Alert System Activated By Mistake |website=cbs2chicago.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806205146/http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/Emergency.Alert.System.2.337932.html |archive-date=August 6, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Inadvertent Activation of the Illinois Emergency Alert System |url=http://www.fema.gov/media/fact_sheets/eas.shtm |publisher=FEMA |date=June 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717212239/http://www.fema.gov/media/fact_sheets/eas.shtm |archive-date=July 17, 2007  }}</ref>
* On May 19, 2010, [[NOAA Weather Radio]] and [[United States Army Chemical Materials Activity|CSEPP]] tone alert radios in the [[Hermiston, Oregon]] area, near the [[Umatilla Chemical Depot]], were activated with an EAS alert shortly after 5 p.m. The message transmitted was for a [[severe thunderstorm warning]], issued by the National Weather Service in [[Pendleton, Oregon|Pendleton]], but the transmission broadcast instead was a long period of silence, followed by a few words in Spanish. [[Umatilla County, Oregon|Umatilla County]] Emergency Management has stressed there was no emergency at the depot.<ref>{{cite news | agency=Associated Press | url=http://heraldnet.com/article/20100520/NEWS03/705209858 | location=Everett, Washington | title=Glitch scrambles Oregon thunderstorm warning | work=The Herald | date=May 20, 2010 | access-date=June 1, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712180746/http://heraldnet.com/article/20100520/NEWS03/705209858 | archive-date=July 12, 2010 | url-status=live }}</ref>
* On September 3, 2016, in the wake of [[Hurricane Hermine|Tropical Storm Hermine]], an alert was displayed on television calling for the immediate evacuation of the entirety of [[Suffolk County, New York|Suffolk County]], abruptly ending with the incomplete sentence "This is an emergency message from". About 15 minutes after the original message was sent, the alert was re-issued with an addendum clarifying that the alert was actually calling for a voluntary evacuation of [[Fire Island]]—a [[barrier island]] of [[Long Island]]. Officials cited an error in the county's Code Red system; while the correct message was entered into the system, an error processing an abbreviated message for television resulted in the error.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Evacuation-Alert-for-Suffolk-County-Mistakenly-Given-Administrator-392266541.html|title=Evacuation Alert for Suffolk County Mistakenly Given|work=NBC New York|access-date=November 27, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128075155/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Evacuation-Alert-for-Suffolk-County-Mistakenly-Given-Administrator-392266541.html|archive-date=November 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/suffolk-automated-system-caused-false-evacuation-alert-for-hermine-1.12269519|title=Officials: Automated system caused false alert for Hermine|website=Newsday|date=September 6, 2016 |language=en|access-date=January 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129061924/https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/suffolk-automated-system-caused-false-evacuation-alert-for-hermine-1.12269519|archive-date=January 29, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On May 23, 2017, at around 8:55&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]], a Nuclear Power Plant Warning was issued for the [[Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant|Hope Creek]] and [[Salem Nuclear Power Plant|Salem]] Nuclear Power Plants. The alert was issued for [[Salem County, New Jersey|Salem]] and [[Cumberland County, New Jersey|Cumberland]] counties in New Jersey. In a statement by the New Jersey State Police, it was a test message, intended for a small group of emergency management personnel who were participating in the test. Due to a coding error, the message was publicly broadcast. This would happen again in July 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Gray |title=False nuclear power plant warning worried NJ residents |url=https://6abc.com/new-jersey-news-nuclear-power-plant-warning-emergency-alert-system-salem-hope-creek/2031983/ |access-date=March 25, 2023 |work=[[WPVI-TV|6ABC Action News]]|date=May 24, 2017 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326002445/https://6abc.com/new-jersey-news-nuclear-power-plant-warning-emergency-alert-system-salem-hope-creek/2031983/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* On August 15, 2017 at approximately 12:25&nbsp;a.m. [[Chamorro Time Zone|ChST]], [[Guam]] stations [[KTWG]] and [[KSTO]] transmitted a civil danger warning for the island; Guam Homeland Security described the message, which interrupted programming on the stations, and was received on television by some viewers, as being an "unauthorized test" of the EAS. The incident's impact was strengthened, as [[North Korea]] had threatened the launch of ballistic missiles towards Guam only a few days beforehand. Numerous calls to 911 operators and the [[Department of Homeland Security]] were made following the broadcast.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/15/asia/guam-accidental-warning-trnd/index.html|title=Guam radio stations freak out island with emergency alert|last=Criss|first=Doug|work=CNN|access-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921022833/http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/15/asia/guam-accidental-warning-trnd/index.html|archive-date=September 21, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/15/guam-radio-stations-accidental-emergency-alert-north-korea-threat|title=Guam radio stations accidentally air emergency alert amid North Korea threat|last=Haas|first=Benjamin|date=August 15, 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=January 14, 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115001257/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/15/guam-radio-stations-accidental-emergency-alert-north-korea-threat|archive-date=January 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:2018 Hawaii missile alert (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|On January 13, 2018, a [[2018 Hawaii false missile alert|false alarm]] was issued warning of a missile threat to Hawaii.]]
* On January 13, 2018 at approximately 8:07&nbsp;a.m. [[Hawaii–Aleutian Time Zone|HST]], the [[Hawaii Emergency Management Agency]] (HI-EMA) mistakenly [[2018 Hawaii false missile alert|issued an emergency alert warning of a ballistic missile inbound threatening the region]], which was claimed to be not a drill. 38 minutes later, it was announced by HI-EMA and the [[Honolulu Police Department]] that the alert was a false alarm.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/01/13/breaking-news/emergency-officials-mistakenly-send-out-missile-threat-alert/|title=Emergency officials mistakenly send out missile threat alert|date=January 13, 2018|work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser|access-date=January 13, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113192642/http://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/01/13/breaking-news/emergency-officials-mistakenly-send-out-missile-threat-alert/|archive-date=January 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawaii-missile-alert-today-emergency-management-system-incoming-ballistic-missile-warning-error/|title=Hawaii missile alert: False alarm warns residents of "ballistic missile threat"|access-date=November 27, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113231732/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawaii-missile-alert-today-emergency-management-system-incoming-ballistic-missile-warning-error/|archive-date=January 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The incident came amidst heightened concern over the possibility that Hawaii could be targeted by North Korean missiles (in December 2017, Hawaii tested its missile sirens for the first time since the [[Cold War]]).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42677604|title=Hawaii sends out missile alert by mistake|date=2018|work=BBC News|access-date=January 13, 2018|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724172855/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42677604|archive-date=July 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> HI-EMA administrator [[Vern Miyagi]] stated that the incident was a "mistake made during a standard procedure at the change over of a shift".<ref name="fox011318">{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/hawaiis-false-missile-threat-worker-feels-terrible-after-pushing-the-wrong-button|work=Fox News|title=Hawaii's scary false missile threat: Worker's push of the 'wrong button' to blame|first1=Nicole|last1=Darrah|first2=Kathleen|last2=Joyce|date=January 13, 2018|access-date=January 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114003504/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/01/13/hawaiis-scary-false-missile-threat-workers-push-wrong-button-to-blame.html|archive-date=January 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On August 31, 2022, amid [[2022 California wildfires|wildfires]], an immediate evacuation notice for the [[Castaic, California|Castiac, California]] area, which was issued by the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management and transmitted over NOAA Weather Radio, was mistakenly sent out to include the Eastern North Pacific Ocean and Port Conception to Guadalupe; the alert text repeatedly listed "Eastern North Pacific Ocean" or "Eastern North Pacific" twelve different times. Although a real emergency had occurred, the [[Ventura County Sheriff's Office]] stated that the alert had been issued for those areas in error.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ladden-Hall |first=Dan |date=2022-09-01 |title=Los Angeles Evacuation Order Broadcast on TV in Error |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/los-angeles-evacuation-order-broadcast-on-tv-was-made-in-error |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=The Daily Beast |language=en |archive-date=September 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906004857/https://www.thedailybeast.com/los-angeles-evacuation-order-broadcast-on-tv-was-made-in-error |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-01 |title=Evacuation notice broadcast countywide made 'in error' |url=https://signalscv.com/2022/09/evacuation-notice-broadcast-countywide-made-in-error/ |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=Santa Clarita Valley Signal |language=en-US |archive-date=September 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906004901/https://signalscv.com/2022/09/evacuation-notice-broadcast-countywide-made-in-error/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Cybersecurity breaches ===
EAS equipment has been the subject of various [[Cyberattack|cyberattacks]], caused primarily by participants using insecure or factory default passwords on their encoders and decoders, and outdated software containing [[Patch (computing)|unpatched]] [[Vulnerability (computing)|vulnerabilities]]. On multiple occasions, federal government departments have warned that failure to employ secure passwords and keep software updated made EAS equipment vulnerable to such attacks, which could result in disruptions such as false alerts.<ref>{{cite web |last=Goodin |first=Dan |date=2022-08-05 |title="Huge flaw" threatens US emergency alert system, DHS researcher warns |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/08/huge-flaw-threatens-us-emergency-alert-system-dhs-researcher-warns/ |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=August 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806035649/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/08/huge-flaw-threatens-us-emergency-alert-system-dhs-researcher-warns/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10" />

* In February 2013, the EAS equipment of several stations in [[Great Falls, Montana]] and [[Marquette, Michigan]] [[2013 Emergency Alert System hijackings|were breached]] to play a false alert allegedly warning of a [[zombie apocalypse]], using the lines "Civil authorities in your area have reported that the bodies of the dead are rising from the graves and attacking the living". It was identified that the attack had come from an "overseas" source. Furthermore, the broadcasters had neglected to change the factory default logins or passwords on their equipment. Because of this, the FCC, FEMA, equipment manufacturers, as well as trade groups, including the [[Michigan Association of Broadcasters]], urged broadcasters to change their passwords and to recheck their security measures.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/02/zombie_apocalypse_now_michigan.html | title=Zombie apocalypse now? Michigan TV stations' Emergency Alert Systems hacked with notice of walking dead | date=February 12, 2013 | website=Mlive.com | access-date=February 12, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214013017/http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/02/zombie_apocalypse_now_michigan.html | archive-date=February 14, 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radioworld.com/industry/wzzy-hacked-broadcasts-zombie-warning-in-indiana|title=WZZY Hacked, Broadcasts Zombie Warning in Indiana|date=March 3, 2017|website=Radio World|language=en-US|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808174947/https://www.radioworld.com/industry/wzzy-hacked-broadcasts-zombie-warning-in-indiana|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/13/police-believe-zombie-hoax-attacks-linked/1915921/|title=Police say Mont. TV zombie hoax likely linked to others|website=USA Today|language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808174947/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/13/police-believe-zombie-hoax-attacks-linked/1915921/|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-xpm-2013-02-14-chi-zombie-hack-blamed-on-easy-passwords-20130214-story.html|title=Zombie hack blamed on easy passwords|agency=Reuters|website=chicagotribune.com|language=en-US|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808193235/https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-xpm-2013-02-14-chi-zombie-hack-blamed-on-easy-passwords-20130214-story.html|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/02/12/171814715/zombie-alert-also-aired-in-michigan-hacking-traced-to-overseas-source|title='Zombie Alert' Also Aired In Michigan; Hacking Traced To Overseas Source|website=NPR.org|date=February 12, 2013|language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808174945/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/02/12/171814715/zombie-alert-also-aired-in-michigan-hacking-traced-to-overseas-source|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live|last1=Memmott|first1=Mark}}</ref>
** In a related incident, [[WIZM-FM]] in [[La Crosse, Wisconsin]] accidentally triggered the EAS on television station [[WKBT-DT]] by airing a recording of the false message during its morning show. The relayed audio included the hosts' reactions and laughter to the clip.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/tv-zombie-attack-warning-a-false-alarm/article_96312830-759f-11e2-bb49-0019bb2963f4.html|title=TV zombie-attack warning a false alarm|last=Hubbuch|first=Chris|website=La Crosse Tribune|date=February 13, 2013 |language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808174946/https://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/tv-zombie-attack-warning-a-false-alarm/article_96312830-759f-11e2-bb49-0019bb2963f4.html|archive-date=August 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On February 28, 2017, [[WZZY]] in [[Winchester, Indiana]] was hijacked in a nearly identical manner, playing the same "dead bodies" audio from the February 2013 incidents. The incident prompted a public response from the Randolph County Sheriff's Department clarifying that there was no actual emergency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fox59.com/2017/03/01/hackers-take-over-randolph-county-radio-stations-alert-system-send-out-messages-about-fake-zombie-attack/|title=Hackers take over Randolph County radio station's alert system, send out messages about fake zombie attack|work=Fox59.com|date=March 1, 2017|access-date=March 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308021407/http://fox59.com/2017/03/01/hackers-take-over-randolph-county-radio-stations-alert-system-send-out-messages-about-fake-zombie-attack/|archive-date=March 8, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/state/state-indiana/hacked-radio-station-reports-zombie-attack-and-disease-outbreak-in-randolph-county-indiana|title=WZZY 98.3FM zombie outbreak: Hacked radio station reports zombie attack in Randolph County, Indiana|first=PJ|last=O'Keefe|work=WCPO.com|date=March 3, 2017|access-date=March 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309033751/http://www.wcpo.com/news/state/state-indiana/hacked-radio-station-reports-zombie-attack-and-disease-outbreak-in-randolph-county-indiana|archive-date=March 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* In January 2020, ''Security Ledger'' published an investigation finding that at least 50 EAS decoders by Digital Alert Systems had not been patched for a security vulnerability (use of a shared [[Secure Shell|SSH]] [[Public-key cryptography|key]]) found by [[IOActive]] in 2013.<ref name=":10">{{cite web|url=https://securityledger.com/2020/01/seven-years-later-scores-of-eas-systems-sit-un-patched-vulnerable/|title=Seven Years Later, Scores of EAS Systems sit Un-patched, Vulnerable|date=January 27, 2020|website=The Security Ledger|language=en-US|access-date=January 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129041238/https://securityledger.com/2020/01/seven-years-later-scores-of-eas-systems-sit-un-patched-vulnerable/|archive-date=January 29, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On February 20, 2020, the EAS equipment of [[Washington (state)|Washington]]-based provider [[Wave Broadband]] was hijacked, causing approximately 3,000 customers in [[Jefferson County, Washington|Jefferson County]] to receive several false alerts (including a "Radiological Hazard Warning"), which contained irrelevant and comedic messages (including one suggesting that the provider change its passwords) and alert audio referencing [[internet meme]]s and [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] streamer [[Vinesauce]] (who was unaffiliated with this breach).<ref>{{cite web|title=Wave cable meme hack affects 3,000 Jefferson County residents|url=https://www.ptleader.com/stories/wave-cable-meme-hack-affects-3000-jefferson-county-residents,68027|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406174429/https://www.ptleader.com/stories/wave-cable-meme-hack-affects-3000-jefferson-county-residents,68027|archive-date=April 6, 2020|access-date=April 6, 2020|website=Port Townsend Leader|date=February 26, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Graham|title=Hackers target cable TV alert system and send false messages|url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/false-alert-indicating-radiological-incident-appeared-tv-jefferson-county/KJI2SNVTZBE6DAOMYWFOQK47SM/|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=KIRO|date=February 22, 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608225614/https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/false-alert-indicating-radiological-incident-appeared-tv-jefferson-county/KJI2SNVTZBE6DAOMYWFOQK47SM/|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 2 and 3, 2020, a legitimate Required Monthly Test was displayed with a message ("AIGHT IM DONE U CAN REST NOW. MR GERDE WAS HERE") that had also appeared in the hijack: a company official stated that this was a remnant of the attack that had not yet been removed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ptleader.com/stories/wave-false-alert-remains-mystery-after-residual-message-airs-again,68246|title=Wave false alert remains mystery after 'residual' message airs again|website=Port Townsend Leader|date=March 11, 2020 |language=en|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406174433/https://www.ptleader.com/stories/wave-false-alert-remains-mystery-after-residual-message-airs-again,68246|archive-date=April 6, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/no-emergency-false-alert-over-radiological-incident-sent-by-jefferson-county/281-568c86b3-8aae-4df0-b3b3-5dd4c800e0e8|title=False TV alert over 'radiological hazard' concerns Washington emergency officials|website=[[KING-TV|KING5.com]]|date=February 21, 2020|access-date=April 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327050956/https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/no-emergency-false-alert-over-radiological-incident-sent-by-jefferson-county/281-568c86b3-8aae-4df0-b3b3-5dd4c800e0e8|archive-date=March 27, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Tone usage outside of alerts ===
To protect the integrity of the system, and prevent false activations, the FCC prohibits the use of actual or simulated EAS/WEA tones and attention signals outside of genuine alerts, tests, or authorized [[public service announcement]]s, especially when they are used "to capture audience attention during advertisements; dramatic, entertainment, and educational programs" (even if the footage is documentation of an event where an actual alert was issued).<ref name=":2" /> Broadcasters who misuse the tones may be sanctioned (including being required to partake in compliance measures) and fined.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/fcc-fines-walking-dead-jimmy-kimmel-live-others-hit-with-fcc-fines-for-misuing-emergency-alert-tones-1202669390/|title='Walking Dead', 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' & Others Hit With FCC Fines For "Misusing" Emergency Alert Tones|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|date=August 16, 2019|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=August 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816195852/https://deadline.com/2019/08/fcc-fines-walking-dead-jimmy-kimmel-live-others-hit-with-fcc-fines-for-misuing-emergency-alert-tones-1202669390/|archive-date=August 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> 
* Tones from the EAS were used in the trailer for the 2013 film ''[[Olympus Has Fallen]]''; cable providers were fined $1.9 million by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on March 3, 2014, for misuse of EAS tones.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/false-alarm-olympus-movie-ad-draws-19m-fine |title=False alarm 'Olympus' movie ad draws $1.9M fine |work=The Big Story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231204456/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/false-alarm-olympus-movie-ad-draws-19m-fine |archive-date=December 31, 2014  }}</ref> An event similar to this previously occurred in November 2013, when [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]] was fined $25,000 for the use of EAS tones in a ''[[Conan (talk show)|Conan]]'' advertisement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/11/6/5072954/fcc-fines-tbs-25000-for-simulating-emergency-alert-in-conan-ad|title=FCC fines TBS $25,000 for simulating emergency alert tones in 'Conan' ad|last=Welch|first=Chris|date=November 6, 2013|website=The Verge|access-date=August 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214071515/https://www.theverge.com/2013/11/6/5072954/fcc-fines-tbs-25000-for-simulating-emergency-alert-in-conan-ad|archive-date=December 14, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* During the October 24, 2014 episode of the syndicated radio show ''[[The Bobby Bones Show]]'', host [[Bobby Bones]] played audio from the 2011 national test as part of a rant about a genuine test from Nashville's Fox affiliate, [[WZTV]], that interrupted Game 2 of the [[2014 World Series]] on October 22. The errant Emergency Action Notification was relayed to some broadcasters and cable systems—particularly those not configured to reject EAN messages that did not match the current date. On May 19, 2015, [[iHeartMedia]], who distributes the show and owns its flagship station [[WSIX-FM]], was fined $1 million for the incident. The company was also ordered to implement a three-year compliance plan to avoid any further incidents, including removing all EAS tones or similar-sounding noises from its audio production libraries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/05/multi-state-cascade-of-false-emergency-alerts-nets-1-million-fine/|title="Multi-state cascade" of false emergency alerts nets $1 million fine|last=Brodkin|first=Jon|date=May 19, 2015|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us|access-date=May 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529195432/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/05/multi-state-cascade-of-false-emergency-alerts-nets-1-million-fine/|archive-date=May 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fybush.com/nerw-extra-20141027/|title=NERW Extra: A Few Words About EAS|first=Scott|last=Fybush|work=Fybush Media|date=October 28, 2014|access-date=October 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030052300/http://www.fybush.com/nerw-extra-20141027/|archive-date=October 30, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> 
* From August 4 to 6, 2016, [[Tegna, Inc.]]-owned [[NBC]] affiliate [[WTLV]] in [[Jacksonville, Florida]] aired an ad several times during NBC's primetime coverage of the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] produced by the marketing department of the [[National Football League]]'s [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] featuring out-of-sequence EAS tones over Jaguars training camp footage and a voiceover noting "this is not a test, this is an emergency broadcast transmission...seek shelter immediately", along with the on-screen text "the storm is coming". The ad aired four times before station compliance authorities pulled the advertisement after the [[local news]] industry blog FTVLive criticized the station for carrying it, especially during the peak of the [[Atlantic hurricane season]]. FTVLive's piece would be noted by the FCC in their decision against WTLV rendered on May 30, 2017, when it was given a $55,000 fine for carrying the offending Jaguars ad.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jacksonville's WTLV TV-12 owner fined for use of Emergency Alert tones in Jaguars promo|url=http://jacksonville.com/metro/business/2017-05-30/jacksonville-s-wtlv-tv-12-owner-fined-use-emergency-alert-tones-jaguars|last=Dixon|first=Drew|date=May 30, 2017|work=[[The Florida Times-Union]]|access-date=June 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606172239/http://jacksonville.com/metro/business/2017-05-30/jacksonville-s-wtlv-tv-12-owner-fined-use-emergency-alert-tones-jaguars|archive-date=June 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=In the Matter of TEGNA Inc., parent of Multimedia Holdings Corporation Licensee of Station WTLV, Jacksonville, Florida|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=May 30, 2017|url=https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-17-424A1.pdf|access-date=June 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708013137/https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-17-424A1.pdf|archive-date=July 8, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The FCC issued several fines relating to EAS tone usage in August 2019, including [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] being fined $395,000 for using wireless emergency alert tones multiple times during a ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!|Jimmy Kimmel Live]]'' sketch, [[AMC Networks]] being fined $104,000 for using the tones in ''[[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]]'' episode "[[Omega (The Walking Dead)|Omega]]", [[Discovery, Inc.|Discovery Inc.]] being fined $68,000 for including footage of an actual WEA activation during a ''[[Lone Star Law]]'' episode filmed during [[Hurricane Harvey]], and [[Meruelo Group]] was fined $61,000 for including an EAS-like tone during a radio advertisement for [[KDAY]] and [[KDEY-FM]]'s morning show.<ref name=":2" />
* On September 9, 2019, the FCC proposed a $272,000 fine against [[CBS]] for using simulated EAS tones in the ''[[Young Sheldon]]'' episode, "A Mother, A Child, and a Blue Man's Backside".<ref>{{cite news|url = https://deadline.com/2019/09/young-sheldon-fcc-proposes-six-figure-fine-for-misuse-of-emergency-alert-tone-1202729605/|title = 'Young Sheldon': FCC Proposes Six-Figure Fine For Misuse Of Emergency Alert Tone|work = [[Deadline Hollywood]]|date = September 9, 2019|accessdate = May 13, 2021|last = Pedersen|first = Erik|archive-date = April 27, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210427233523/https://deadline.com/2019/09/young-sheldon-fcc-proposes-six-figure-fine-for-misuse-of-emergency-alert-tone-1202729605/|url-status = live}}</ref> CBS defended the statement, saying that the tones' usage was a "dramatic portrayal", and that it was an "integral part of the storyline about a family's visceral reaction to a life-threatening emergency". The show's sound editors achieved the effect by downloading EAS tones from YouTube and modifying the volume of the tone. CBS passed the edited tone through three quality rooms equipped with EAS decoders and pre-screened the episode to make sure it did not trigger an actual alert. Also, the show's dialogue was used to obscure some elements of the alert. However, the FCC insisted that the modified tone still sounded like a normal EAS tone, despite the volume being lowered and the tone being cut short in duration. It also said that the pre-screening process did not excuse an unauthorized usage of the EAS tones.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.insideradio.com/free/cbs-fined-272-000-after-fcc-concludes-it-misused-eas-tones/article_f61e08c0-d390-11e9-a8d0-3f5292413ba0.html|title = CBS Fined $272,000 After FCC Concludes It Misused EAS Tones|work = Inside Radio|date = September 10, 2019|accessdate = May 12, 2021|archive-date = October 18, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201018025822/http://www.insideradio.com/free/cbs-fined-272-000-after-fcc-concludes-it-misused-eas-tones/article_f61e08c0-d390-11e9-a8d0-3f5292413ba0.html|url-status = live}}</ref> 
* On April 7, 2020, the FCC proposed a $20,000 fine against New York City radio station [[WNEW-FM]], for using the attention signal during its morning show on October 3, 2018 as part of a skit discussing the National Periodic Test held later that day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/185965/fcc-proposes-20000-fine-against-wnew-for-using-eas-tones/|title=FCC Proposes $20,000 Fine Against WNEW For Using EAS Tones|date=April 7, 2020|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US|access-date=April 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408082534/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/185965/fcc-proposes-20000-fine-against-wnew-for-using-eas-tones/|archive-date=April 8, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
* In January 2023, the FCC proposed a $504,000 fine against [[Fox Corporation]] for using EAS tones during a promo broadcast on ''[[Fox NFL Sunday]]'' in November 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Tom Butts |date=2023-01-25 |title=FCC Proposes $504K Fine on Fox for EAS Violations |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/fcc-proposes-fining-fox-dollar504k-for-eas-violations |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=TVTechnology |language=en |archive-date=February 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207105942/https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/fcc-proposes-fining-fox-dollar504k-for-eas-violations |url-status=live }}</ref>
* On October 17, 2024, the FCC proposed a $146,976 fine against [[ESPN]] for misusing the EAS tones during a promotional segment for the start of the [[2023–24 NBA season]] that aired during the week of October 20–24, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-17 |title=FCC PROPOSES FINE AGAINST ESPN FOR IMPROPER TRANSMISSIONS OF EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM TONES |url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-406716A1.pdf |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=FCC News}}</ref>

In an opposite move, in 2013 the FCC granted a one-year waiver for a [[public service announcement|PSA]] pertaining to the [[Wireless Emergency Alerts]] system, with assurance that the tones used in the PSA contained a different set of codes designed not to activate EAS receivers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stimson |first1=Leslie |title=ABA Tells Members It's Okay to Air New WEA PSAs |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/-aba-tells-members-its-okay-to-air-new-wea-psas |website=TV Tech |access-date=April 28, 2023 |date=June 3, 2013 |archive-date=April 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428222515/https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/-aba-tells-members-its-okay-to-air-new-wea-psas |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Testing errors ===
* On October 19, 2008, [[KWVE-FM]] in [[San Clemente, California]] accidentally initiated a Required Monthly Test when it meant to conduct a Required Weekly Test. Furthermore, an operator aborted the test mid-way through the broadcast (failing to broadcast the end-of-message tone), causing all area outlets to broadcast KWVE-FM's programming until those stations took their equipment offline.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2053A1.pdf | title=In the Matter of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, Inc., FM Radio Station KWVE San Clemente, California: Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture Adopted: September 15, 2009 Released: September 17, 2009 | date=December 6, 2016 | publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]] | access-date=June 16, 2017}}</ref> On September 15, 2009, the FCC fined the station's owner, [[Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa]], $5,000. After the fine was levied, various state broadcast associations in the United States submitted joint letters to the FCC, protesting against the fine, saying that the commission could have handled the matter better.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://radiomagonline.com/currents/news/state-broadcast-associations-appeal-kwve-eas-fine-fcc-1009/ | title=State Broadcast Associations Appeal KWVE EAS Fine to FCC | work=Radio | date=October 9, 2009 | access-date=October 2, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602015453/http://radiomagonline.com/currents/news/state-broadcast-associations-appeal-kwve-eas-fine-fcc-1009/ | archive-date=June 2, 2011 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> On November 13, 2009, the FCC rescinded its fine against KWVE-FM, but had still admonished the station for broadcasting an unauthorized RMT, as well as omitting the code to end the test.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://radiomagonline.com/currents/news/fcc-dismisses-kwve-eas-fine-1117/ | title=FCC Dismisses KWVE EAS Fine | work=Radio Magazine | date=November 17, 2009 | access-date=October 2, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715150505/http://radiomagonline.com/currents/news/fcc-dismisses-kwve-eas-fine-1117/ | archive-date=July 15, 2011 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref>
* On September 28, 2016, an emergency alert was broadcast by [[WKTV]] in [[Utica, New York]] that contained a Hazardous Materials Warning for the entire United States. The message contained a non-sequitur quote from the [[Dr. Seuss]] book ''[[Green Eggs and Ham]]'', "Would you. Could you. On a train?" WKTV apologized and stated that the alert was "an automated test [from FEMA] which was not intended for public display." A FEMA representative stated that its decoders had been mistakenly "configured to poll a test and development message aggregator instead of or in addition to the production message aggregator", with the test server having used the ''Green Eggs and Ham'' quote as placeholder text. The error was also connected to conspiracy theories surrounding [[2016 Hoboken train crash|a train crash in New Jersey that occurred the next day]], which claimed that the alert was a forewarning of the incident.<ref>{{cite web |title=New York Television Station Broadcasts Bizarre Warning Before Hoboken Train Crash |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/new-york-television-station-broadcasts-bizarre-warning-before-hoboken-train-crash/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Snopes.com |date=October 3, 2016 |language=en-US |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714235712/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/new-york-television-station-broadcasts-bizarre-warning-before-hoboken-train-crash/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* On September 21, 2017, a technical glitch in another scheduled test by KWVE caused the end-of-message tone to be omitted, causing regional participants (particularly [[Charter Communications|Charter]] and [[Cox Cable]] systems in [[Orange County, California|Orange County]]) to simulcast a portion of [[Chuck Swindoll]]'s ''Insight for Living'' program. Some viewers speculated that the system had been hijacked, as the portion of the program relayed (where Swindoll was discussing the Bible verse [[2 Timothy 3|2 Timothy 3:1]], and stated, "Realize this, extremely violent times will come.") could be insinuated out of context as discussing an impending apocalypse.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ocregister.com/2017/09/21/end-of-world-prediction-interrupts-tv-broadcasts-in-orange-county/|title=End-of-world prediction interrupts TV broadcasts in Orange County|date=September 21, 2017|work=Orange County Register|access-date=September 30, 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929091948/http://www.ocregister.com/2017/09/21/end-of-world-prediction-interrupts-tv-broadcasts-in-orange-county/|archive-date=September 29, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ocregister.com/2017/09/22/end-of-world-prediction-heard-on-o-c-television-channels-linked-to-equipment-failure/|title=End-of-world message on TV was just glitch from a test of the Emergency Alert System|date=September 23, 2017|work=Orange County Register|access-date=September 30, 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930084253/http://www.ocregister.com/2017/09/22/end-of-world-prediction-heard-on-o-c-television-channels-linked-to-equipment-failure/|archive-date=September 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/09/22/extremely-violent-times-will-come-ominous-emergency-alert-was-just-a-tv-test-gone-awry/|title='Extremely violent times will come!': Ominous emergency alert was just a TV test gone awry|last=Bever|first=Lindsey|date=September 22, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=September 30, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930084821/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/09/22/extremely-violent-times-will-come-ominous-emergency-alert-was-just-a-tv-test-gone-awry/|archive-date=September 30, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>