The 1971 Emergency Broadcast System Incident: A Moment of Panic

Remember that brief moment of icy fear that went down your spine every time you heard the start of an Emergency Broadcast System test? For many in the United States, February 20, 1971, marked a particularly chilling experience as an alert broadcast on TV and radio stations across the country failed to begin with the usual reassuring disclaimer.

The Purpose of the Emergency Broadcasting System

The Emergency Action Notification System, established in 1963, was designed to give U.S. presidents a method to quickly communicate critical information to the public during times of war, imminent threats, or major national crises. While listeners had grown accustomed to periodic test broadcasts interrupting their television shows, the message that day was far more alarming.

The Alarming Broadcast

On that fateful Saturday morning, listeners were greeted with a grave warning. A Ft. Wayne news radio station, WOWO, interrupted its regular programming with a message that sent shockwaves through the community: “This station has interrupted its regular program at the request of the United States government, to participate in the emergency broadcast system.” The announcement declared that the station would become the official government news source and warned that other local stations would cease broadcasting due to a declared national emergency.

Chaos Across the Airwaves

As similar alerts were broadcasted across the nation, the composure of both the broadcasting industry and the public began to crumble. According to Variety, the situation led to widespread confusion: “Some stations broadcast the announcement and went off the air as required—throwing listeners into a tizzy. Other stations didn’t pick up the warning until after it had been cancelled. Some went off the air without having the nerve to broadcast the warning.”

Public Reaction

The response from the public was one of sheer terror. A listener from Chicago recounted, “I was absolutely terrified. I just knew that we were at war and that the President would come on and say what had happened.” In Florida, another woman expressed her fear, stating, “I didn’t do anything. I just sat there being scared.”

The Role of Local Broadcasters

Back in Ft. Wayne, host Bob Sievers quickly took control of WOWO’s airwaves to clarify the situation. He urged listeners not to inundate the station’s phone lines with frantic calls. “Again, ladies and gentlemen, we ask you please, please do not call us to ask what is the matter,” he implored. “We are endeavoring to find out ourselves.”

Human Error at the Heart of the Crisis

Fortunately, the cause of this terrifying alert was not the onset of nuclear war, but a significant human error. An employee at the National Emergency Warning Center mistakenly included the wrong confirmation code during that day’s planned test. This error led stations to believe they were broadcasting a real emergency.

Aftermath and Reactions

It took 40 minutes for the center to rectify the situation and inform the stations that the alert was merely a test. A relieved Sievers eventually reassured his listeners, stating, “And so… If you think this hasn’t been something here at the studio…”

Nevertheless, the incident raised serious concerns regarding the reliability of the emergency notification system. The New York Times reported, “The center’s explanation is that ‘human error’ caused unauthorized declaration of national emergency.” Critics questioned whether similar errors could trigger real military responses in the future, highlighting the need for enhanced safeguards.

Improvements and Changes

In response to the chaos caused by the February 20, 1971 incident, the National Emergency Warning Center implemented significant changes to its alert system. Notably, the “jarring, screeching sounds” used in tests were modified to convey specific data to broadcasters, clarifying whether a transmission was a test or an actual emergency.

Since then, while a few local and regional false alerts have occurred, there has not been a national alert error of this magnitude. The system was upgraded and renamed the Emergency Alert System in 1997, and in 2018, the government conducted its first test of a national cell phone-based “Presidential Alert” system.

Conclusion

The February 20, 1971 incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential chaos that can arise from human error in critical systems. While significant improvements have been made since that day, the importance of vigilance and effective communication during emergencies remains paramount.

FAQs

What was the Emergency Action Notification System?

The Emergency Action Notification System was established in 1963 to allow U.S. presidents to quickly communicate with the public during times of war or national crisis.

What happened on February 20, 1971?

An erroneous broadcast was made across various TV and radio stations, mistakenly declaring a national emergency due to a human error in transmitting a test alert.

How did the public react to the false alert?

The public experienced widespread panic and fear, with many listeners believing that the country was at war.

What changes were made after the incident?

The National Emergency Warning Center implemented significant changes to improve the reliability of the alert system, including modifications to the sounds used during broadcasts.