1971 Emergency Broadcast System False Alarm
On February 20, 1971, NORAD at Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado was ready to broadcast a normal required weekly test of the Emergency Broadcast System. However, AT&T reported that the United States Air Force used the wrong tape for the test by accident, and initiated an Emergency Action Notification, normally issued by the Office of Civil Defense or the President. This prompted all stations in the Fort Wayne, Indiana, area by order of the FCC to operate under emergency procedures and feed the broadcast from WOWO through their radios. Bob Sievers was at the microphone at WOWO at the time, and he, along with everyone at the studio, had no idea what was going on. When he heard the message from the Air Force, you could hear in his voice that he was very relieved that it was only a mistake.
British singer/songwriter Adrian Evans documented the event in his song "The Great Fort Wayne Mix Up".
The WOWO recording is used in the song "Cold Call" by American progressive rock band OSI on their release Fire Make Thunder.
Read more about this topic: WOWO (AM)
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