Anyone born in the 1960s remembers those occasional tests of the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS). As a commercial, you would get a message that began, “This is a test. For the next sixty seconds, this station will conduct of a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test.” This would be followed by an obnoxious, monotoned/multi-frequency sound that went on for about 20 seconds. The concluding message said, “This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. The broadcasters in your area in voluntary cooperation with the FCC and other authorities have developed this system to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed where to tune in your area for news and official information. This concludes this test of the Emergency Broadcast System.”
This was cutting edge technology for the time era. The original system was introduced in 1951 and was called the CONELRAD (CONtrol of ELectronic RADiation) system. It had its flaws and was replaced in 1963 with the EBS. From 1963-1994, the EBS served our nation well even though it had its own flaws (it could be falsely activated during a lightening storm!). The biggest problem, though, happened on this day in 1971.
If you are reading this online, you have to take a moment and listen to this link from WOWO, AM 1190 out of Fort Wayne. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu4r79l8P8I) As a kid, this station was playing on the radio while we ate breakfast or lunch and hearing the voice of Bob Sievers or Jay Gould. On this day in 1971, the tone of Bob’s voice changed. Across the teletype came an order from the FCC, code word HATEFULNESS, authenticating that this was a message from the president. (https://www.oldradio.com/current/EBS-1971.jpg) All radio stations ceased broadcastin
g anything except emergency information. This was not a test. There was a national emergency. Most people speculated that since we were in the midst of Vietnam as well as the Cold War that this could be a nuclear attack happening on American soil.
For over 40 minutes, Americans held their breath, waiting for more information. Finally, across the teletype came another government cancellation message with the code word IMPISH. What just happened? Why were no specific details given as to the emergency?
It’s because an emergency didn’t exist! A civilian operator for the Air Force at Cheyenne Mountain Complex had put in the wrong tape. What was to have been a weekly broadcast TEST became an actual emergency message. A collective sigh of relief was breathed across our nation and all broadcast stations were free to resume their regularly scheduled programming.
The EBS was replaced in 1994 with the EAS (Emergency Alert System). This system was digital and expedited alerts. Also, if the emergency were real, communication could be immediate rather than waiting on the teletype. This system has since been upgraded with the final improvements made nationwide by June 30, 2012.1
Alarm systems are nothing new. Even back in Bible days, God had created an alarm system. Ezekiel 33:1-7 records, “Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (2) Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: (3) If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; (4) Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. (5) He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. (6) But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. (7) So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.”
These watchmen were looking for physical enemies, invading nations. But they were also entrusted to guard the people from spiritual enemies. The watchmen were to get the word from God and then share it with the people. Failure to do so made them responsible, however, that responsibility was lifted if they sounded the alarm and the people failed to listen.
Today, faithful watchmen will sound the alarm. Pastors, Sunday School teachers, evangelists, missionaries, dads, moms, and many others are placed in roles where they are to watch over and care for the souls in their charge. Biblical warnings can even be sounded out from those within the church. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 says, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”
Christians, we should be God’s EAS – His Emergency Alert System, warning the world of the dangers to come and that they should seek shelter in His salvation. We even warn our fellow believers to live a life that is looking for the Bridegroom to come. Let’s sound the alarm today.
Colossians 1:28 “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”
1https://www.oldradio.com/current/bc_conel.htm
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