Just thought this would be of interest to you all. The manual also states that the Washington Area Warning System was tested for a shorter duration than FEMA's test policy that most other cities followed:CPG 1-14 wrote:3. Washington Area Warning System. The Washington Area Warning System (WAWAS) includes over 400 outdoor sirens (being expanded to 500); indoor bell and lights terminals in office buildings; and a special party line telephone circuit to about 60 Federal, State, and local government control points, such as fire and police, with radio backup to most of these locations. WAWAS is controlled by the Alternate National Warning Center at Olney, Maryland. Backup control is performed by FEMA Region III from its Regional Warning Room.
B. Test Procedures. In the monthly test, the steady sound of the ATTENTION or ALERT WARNING signals should be sounded for one minute. This should be followed by one minute of silence before the rising and falling warning signal or short blasts of the ATTACK WARNING signal are sounded for one minute. During civil preparedness exercises, each warning signal should never be sounded for more than one minute. This will establish a test and exercise pattern different from that used in an actual emergency, when the ATTENTION (ALERT) or the ATTACK WARNING signal will be sounded for 3 to 5 minutes, with either signal possibly repeated. An exception to these procedures would be when weather or other conditions make it necessary to test warning devices more than once a month. The "growl" (very short period of activation) method should be used for the extra tests; or the device should be allowed to turn over very briefly, so that sound is not produced to any significant degree. (Note: The Washington Area Warning System (WAWAS) sirens are sounded for 90 seconds.)