It only lasted a few seconds, but the FEMA National Alert test rang out loudly throughout the school. Fema.gov tells us “The testing process is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the FEMA public alert and warning systems to distribute an emergency message nationwide and the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message to the public.”
On Wednesday, October 5, the alert went out to all phones at Englewood High School, during 5th-period class time. During this week many classes took their fall season midterm. The question it leaves us with is, “Were you distracted?”
Junior Elliot McConnell said it wasn’t a big deal, “The alert didn’t really impact my learning.” Teacher Dean Menardi similarly agrees, “It did (impact learning), but only for a couple of minutes, everybody started laughing… but it wasn’t a big deal.”
However others feel differently, “The alert Impacted my learning in period 5 when I took an algebra midterm,” said sophomore Leilana Panekham, she believes the midterm is a valuable test that holds much weight in determining her grade.
It leaves people questioning if the test is necessary. Senor Julia Moore said, “It’s stupid, it shouldn’t happen.”
The collective answer nevertheless is that the test is necessary no matter how dumb or distracting it may be. “The alert can be necessary for testing and it is a one-time thing,” Penekham said. Sophomore Oliva Alvarenga agrees, “I think (the test is necessary) if something were to happen around the country, we would all have a way to receive the news.”
Is there a compromise so the test can still continue without distracting students from their midterm? Some students have ideas on how to find a solution. “I think that the alert could have been later in the day, for the sake of the teachers who are trying to teach, especially if it impacted other classes differently than our class,” said Alvarenga.
McConnell isn’t worried about the distraction it brings, “I think the alert could be changed by reaching a wider array of devices, and other means of communication so lower income communities can also be contacted, public announcement systems should be more widespread.”
We now ask you, what do you think about the National Alert system? What should be changed next year?
What did you think about the FEMA National Alert test?
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