Oooo, my Midland weather radio shows text labels for different kinds of alerts. According to the radio's booklet, there's a code for national emergencies, so that will be an interesting label to see scrolling across my radio's screen that day. I better make sure my batteries aren't dead that day.

The test will NOT be broadcast on most NWR stations. A few NWR stations in the Pacific Northwest and other areas will broadcast the nationwide EAS test. NWS and FEMA are working on improvements that include NWS receiving the national audio message and broadcasting it over the NWR network. During the nationwide EAS test, NWS will demonstrate the interfaces for receiving and capturing EAN live-code and audio messages. NWR Improvement Project (WRIP) Phase II will be installed in the NWS Telecommunications Operations Center and at NWS offices nationwide through 2012. After those improvements are complete, NWS will install updates which include capability to broadcast the EAN live code and audio from FEMA over all NWR stations

I saw a thing on the TV about this. But like most Emergency Broadcast things I turn down the volume to avoid the annoying noise.

Exactly, most people do that. IMO this exersise serves absolutely no purpose.

Now those cold war era sirens, those were awesome. Bonus points to anyone who knows the difference between a straight tone and a wavy tone.