Wait, What? Failed Emergency Alert Test Just Played Lady Gaga Songs In Some Areas

by Jon Bershad | 3:29 pm, November 10th, 2011

» 23 comments

Yesterday, the FCC and FEMA performed a monumental and basically without precedent test of a nation-wide Emergency Alert System. At the same time, every television and radio station in the entire country was supposed to feature a test of the system for 30 seconds. Instead, some saw it the graphic for four minutes, some saw nothing, and some saw…Lady Gaga music?

Well, I think we can call that a fail.

However, in a blog post, FEMA has said that the test did just what it was supposed to, point out where the system needed work:

“As we have been explaining throughout this process, this initial test was the first time we have gotten a sense of the reach and scope of this technology. It was our opportunity to get a sense of what worked, what didn’t and additional improvements that need to be made to the system as we move forward. It’s only through comprehensively testing, analyzing, and improving these technologies that we can ensure the most effective and reliable emergency alert and warning systems available at a moment’s notice in a time of real national emergency.

This nationwide test served the purpose for which it was intended – to identify gaps and generate a comprehensive set of data to help strengthen our ability to communicate during real emergencies. Based on preliminary data, media outlets in large portions of the country successfully received the test message, but it wasn’t received by some viewers or listeners.”

That may be the case but it doesn’t make the goofy results any less funny. They also gave Fox News’ Greg Jarrett a chance to make one of the snarkiest on air comments we’ve seen in a while when he argued that listening to Lady Gaga was slightly better than listening to an alarm tone. Oh, burn!

Watch the clip from Fox News below:

Emergency Test, FCC, FEMA, greg jarrett, Lady Gaga

Paddy O’funiture

Lady Gaga, really,we’re doomed, doomed I tell you!
Anonymous

I was given the QVC network on all of the stations. The downstairs TV had a different message than the upstairs. If you can’t even get houses to display the same message within the same building, uh oh.
Help

Can someone explain Lady Gaga to me? Her songs are awful and shes not good looking. What do people like? I don’t get it.
BR

I’m surprised it didn’t play MSNBC
Rex the Wonder God

I think it’s because she’s got such big balls.
Jacobgermantta

Lady Gaga is a genius, I don’t know why i am shocked after all it’s the conservative fox news network….figures.
Anonymous

Isn’t shrieking monotonous noise a staple of Fox News programming?
http://profiles.google.com/fatlibertarianinokc Fat Libertarian

Of course it was Lady Gaga with her Illuminati message.

LOL
Guest

Some people like the accepting, inclusive message of her songs; it fills a need for certain groups who are/feel unaccepted or hated. Her songs are pretty bad, even for pop music, but “bad but catchy” seems to be a recipe for success when it comes to pop.
lazzzlo

It’s a warning for the impending apocalypse.
Anonymous

Wait…What? Is Jon Bershad trying to write something intelligent? It’ll never happen…LOL
http://twitter.com/grimcity Neal Boyd

The same effect can (though shouldn’t) be done at home with a smoke detector’s test button and LSD.

Results may vary. Also, purple fish rainbow hop.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LDO6LIQBI2JQ4Q5MWLWBKGKSJY bensanity

Good choice on the Lady Gaga Illuminati pic. Big Brother is watching.
http://www.facebook.com/people/James-Watson/100003136840215 James Watson

Watch Lady Gaga Bambi Awards 2011 Performance Video, Pictures (On November 10. 2011)

http://tiny.cc/Lady-Gaga-Bambi-Awards
Anonymous

These bozos should have chosen 2 or 3am for the first ever test. Instead they made themselves look like imbeciles by failing in grand style in the middle of the day.
TPRTR

I think they mistakenly used the Lady Gaga audio intended for torturing terrorists,
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

It could have been worse… they could have played a Pat Boone song!!
Anonymous

“This is a test of the emergency broadcast system. Broadcasters in your area are taking part in this test. You are advised to tune to one of your local stations. Had this been an actual emergency, we would have played a Madonna piece of crap instead of a Lady GaGa piece of crap. This concludes this test of the emergency broadcast system. This station serves Mars and surrounding planets.”

As for this test on Earth: Epic Fail! (But it was Bush’s fault!)
AliveStillKickin

Everything in this country has gone to hell in a hand basket under the Kenyan, Muslim Obama.
In an emergency….bend over, place your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye!!
AliveStillKickin

That’s why Obama likes him.
He thinks she is Laddy Gaga.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SIYF5565LXG7BBKTKGSSFWU7TA The Rock

You don’t know what good music is Lady GAGA isn’t a piece of crap as you have claim which is a lie. Your wrong as always.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SIYF5565LXG7BBKTKGSSFWU7TA The Rock

LOL at Lady GAGA first ever National Test of EAS was going to have bugs no matter what.
Anonymous

Well, once again “Rock” you don’t “excel” in your use of written English.

Let’s see, you have another of your wonderful run-on sentences, and you have used the wrong form of “your.”

Try: “You don’t know good music. Lady GaGa isn’t a piece of crap as you have claimed. That is a lie. You’re wrong as always.” (Three simple and one compound sentence.)

Rock, when it comes to using the English language, you’re “wrong as [usual].” I won’t say “always” because, unlike me, you’re not always wrong.

Rock, remember that “your” is possessive (for example, “your car”; “your email”; it shows ownership), and “you’re” equals “you are.” Before you post (using your last sentance as an example), say to yourself am I trying to say “you are,” if so, you need to use “you’re” or you can write both words, “you are.” You are trying to say to me, “you are wrong as always,” so you can also use “you’re wrong as always.”

Have a great day. I’ll talk with you later.

(Rock, there’s a quiz on Wednesday!)