Ohio Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan Documentation
Document Version: December 2018 (FCC Approved: March 18, 2019) Amendment: January 2026 — WAKS-FM 96.5 FM designated LP-1A for Central & East Lakeshore (per SECC Chairman Greg Savoldi, January 12, 2026)
Table of Contents
- System Overview
- Ohio EAS Authority & Structure
- Event Codes Reference
- Ohio EAS Structure
- State & Local Primary Stations
- Ohio EAS Monitoring Network
- Notification Procedures
- Committee Contacts
- NOAA Weather Radio Coverage
System Overview
Purpose
The Ohio EAS provides procedures for designated federal, state, and local government officials to issue emergency information, instructions, and warnings to the general public through the broadcast and cable television media.
Coverage & Scope
graph TB
subgraph "Ohio EAS Coverage"
OHIO[Ohio State<br>88 Counties]
subgraph "12 Operational Areas"
A1[1. Central<br>Columbus]
A2[2. Central & East Lakeshore<br>Cleveland]
A3[3. East Central<br>Canton]
A4[4. Lima]
A5[5. North Central<br>Mansfield]
A6[6. Northwest<br>Toledo]
A7[7. South Central<br>Portsmouth]
A8[8. Southeast<br>Athens]
A9[9. Southwest<br>Cincinnati]
A10[10. Upper Ohio Valley<br>Steubenville]
A11[11. West Central<br>Dayton]
A12[12. Youngstown]
end
OHIO --> A1
OHIO --> A2
OHIO --> A3
OHIO --> A4
OHIO --> A5
OHIO --> A6
OHIO --> A7
OHIO --> A8
OHIO --> A9
OHIO --> A10
OHIO --> A11
OHIO --> A12
end
style OHIO fill:#2c3e50,stroke:#34495e,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
style A1 fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,color:#fff
style A2 fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,color:#fff
style A3 fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,color:#fff
style A4 fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,color:#fff
style A5 fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,color:#fff
style A6 fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,color:#fff
style A7 fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,color:#fff
style A8 fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,color:#fff
style A9 fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,color:#fff
style A10 fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,color:#fff
style A11 fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,color:#fff
style A12 fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,color:#fff
Ohio EAS Authority & Structure
Regulatory Framework
graph TD
FCC[FCC Rules<br>47 CFR Part 11]
FEMA[FEMA IPAWS<br>National Coordination]
OHIO[Ohio EAS Plan<br>FCC Approved 2019]
SECC[State Emergency<br>Communications Committee]
LECC[Local Emergency<br>Communications Committees<br>12 Areas]
STATIONS[Participating Stations<br>Broadcast & Cable]
FCC --> OHIO
FEMA --> OHIO
OHIO --> SECC
SECC --> LECC
LECC --> STATIONS
style FCC fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style FEMA fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style OHIO fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style SECC fill:#2ecc71,stroke:#27ae60,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style LECC fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style STATIONS fill:#9b59b6,stroke:#8e44ad,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
Key Authority Information
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| FCC Regulation | 47 CFR, Part 11 |
| Coverage | All 88 Ohio counties grouped into 12 Local Operational Areas |
| State Primary Station | WNCI-FM 97.9 (Columbus) |
| Alternate State Primary | WBNS-FM 97.1 (Columbus) |
| FCC Approval Date | March 18, 2019 |
| Plan Version | December 2018 |
National Primary Stations in Ohio
graph LR
subgraph "National Primary Stations"
WTAM[WTAM 1100 AM<br>Cleveland<br>Northern Ohio]
WLW[WLW 700 AM<br>Cincinnati<br>Southern Ohio]
end
subgraph "Coverage"
NORTH[Northern Ohio<br>Cleveland Metro<br>Lakeshore Counties]
SOUTH[Southern Ohio<br>Cincinnati Metro<br>Border Counties]
end
WTAM --> NORTH
WLW --> SOUTH
style WTAM fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
style WLW fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
style NORTH fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,color:#fff
style SOUTH fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,color:#fff
Event Codes Reference
Event Code Priority Hierarchy
graph TB
subgraph "National Emergency Notifications"
EAN[EAN - Emergency Action Notification]
TOR[TOR - Tornado Warning]
EQW[EQW - Earthquake Warning]
NUW[NUW - Nuclear Warning]
EVI[EVI - Evacuation Immediate]
SPW[SPW - Shelter In Place]
end
subgraph "Immediate Threat Warnings"
FFW[FFW - Flash Flood Warning]
HMW[HMW - Hazardous Materials]
FRW[FRW - Fire Warning]
CDW[CDW - Civil Danger]
LEW[LEW - Law Enforcement]
TOE[TOE - 911 Outage]
end
subgraph "MEDIUM PRIORITY - Safety Warning"
CAE[CAE - Child Abduction<br>AMBER Alert]
CEM[CEM - Civil Emergency]
RHW[RHW - Radiological Hazard]
SQW[SQW - Snow Squall ]
end
subgraph "ADMINISTRATIVE"
RMT[RMT - Monthly Test]
RWT[RWT - Weekly Test]
NPT[NPT - National Test]
EAT[EAT - Emergency Termination]
end
style EAN fill:#8b0000,stroke:#600,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
style TOR fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style EQW fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style NUW fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style EVI fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style SPW fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style FFW fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style HMW fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style FRW fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style CDW fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style LEW fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style TOE fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style CAE fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style CEM fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style RHW fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style SQW fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style RMT fill:#95a5a6,stroke:#7f8c8d,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style RWT fill:#95a5a6,stroke:#7f8c8d,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style NPT fill:#95a5a6,stroke:#7f8c8d,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style EAT fill:#95a5a6,stroke:#7f8c8d,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
Required Event Codes
Event codes required by FCC regulations for all EAS participants:
| Code | Event Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| EAN | Emergency Action Notification | National emergency notification |
| EAT | Emergency Action Termination | Terminates EAN |
| RMT | Required Monthly Test | Monthly system test |
| RWT | Required Weekly Test | Weekly system test |
| NPT | National Periodic Test | National system test |
| CAE | Child Abduction Emergency | AMBER Alert |
| CDW | Civil Danger Warning | Civil/military emergency |
| CEM | Civil Emergency Message | Civil emergency instructions |
| EQW | Earthquake Warning | Earthquake imminent/occurring |
| EVI | Evacuation Immediate | Immediate evacuation required |
| FRW | Fire Warning | Uncontrolled fire threat |
| FFW | Flash Flood Warning | Flash flooding occurring |
| HMW | Hazardous Materials Warning | Toxic chemical/gas release |
| LEW | Law Enforcement Warning | Law enforcement emergency |
| NIC | National Information Center | Emergency information available |
| TOE | 9-1-1 Telephone Outage Emergency | 9-1-1 system failure |
| NUW | Nuclear Power Plant Warning | Nuclear facility emergency |
| RHW | Radiological Hazard Warning | Radioactive material release |
| SPW | Shelter In Place Warning | Shelter indoors immediately |
| TOR | Tornado Warning | Tornado sighted or indicated |
Optional Event Codes
Event codes available for programming at station discretion:
| Code | Event Name | Code | Event Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADR | Administrative Message | BZW | Blizzard Warning |
| BLU | Blue Alert | EWW | Extreme Wind Warning |
| FFA | Flash Flood Watch | FFS | Flash Flood Statement |
| FLW | Flood Warning | FLA | Flood Watch |
| FLS | Flood Statement | HWW | High Wind Warning |
| HWA | High Wind Watch | NMN | Network Message Notification |
| DMO | Practice/Demo Warning | SVR | Severe Thunderstorm Warning |
| SVA | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SVS | Severe Weather Statement |
| SNW | Special Marine Warning | SPS | Special Weather Statement |
| TOA | Tornado Watch | WSW | Winter Storm Warning |
| WSA | Winter Storm Watch |
Ohio EAS Structure
12 Operational Areas
- Central - Columbus (Franklin County and surrounding)
- Central & East Lakeshore - Cleveland/Lake Erie
- East Central - Canton/Akron region
- Lima - Northwest interior
- North Central - Mansfield/Marion area
- Northwest - Toledo region
- South Central - Portsmouth/Chillicothe
- Southeast - Athens/Marietta region
- Southwest - Cincinnati region
- Upper Ohio Valley - Steubenville/Wheeling border
- West Central - Dayton region
- Youngstown - Northeast region
State & Local Primary Stations
State Level
| Designation | Call Sign | Frequency | City | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NP/LP-1 | WTAM | 1100 AM | Cleveland | National Primary |
| NP/LP-1 | WLW | 700 AM | Cincinnati | National Primary |
| SP-1 | WNCI | 97.9 FM | Columbus | State Primary |
| SP-2 | WBNS-FM | 97.1 FM | Columbus | Alternate State Primary |
Local Primary Stations by Operational Area
Central Area
- LP-1: WNCI 97.9 FM (Columbus) - Also State Primary
- LP-2: WBNS-FM 97.1 FM (Columbus)
- LP-3: WHIZ-FM 92.7 FM (Zanesville)
Central & East Lakeshore Area
- LP-1: WTAM 1100 AM (Cleveland) - Also National Primary
- LP-1A: WAKS-FM 96.5 FM (Brecksville) - Alternative LP-1 option (effective January 12, 2026; operators may monitor either WTAM 1100 AM or WAKS-FM 96.5 FM to satisfy the LP-1 requirement — no FCC or SECC filing required)
- LP-2: WCLV 90.3 FM (Cleveland) - Required LP-2 monitoring source
- LP-3: WKSV 89.1 FM (Thompson)
East Central Area
- LP-1: WHBC-FM 94.1 FM (Canton)
- LP-2: WQMX 94.9 FM (Medina)
Lima Area
- LP-1: WIMT 102.1 FM (Lima)
- LP-2: WKXA 100.5 FM (Findlay)
North Central Area
- LP-1: WVNO 106.1 FM (Mansfield)
- LP-2: WNCO-FM 101.3 FM (Ashland)
Northwest Area
- LP-1: WRVF 101.5 FM (Toledo)
- LP-2: WIOT 104.7 FM (Toledo)
- LP-3: WDFM 98.1 FM (Defiance)
- LP-3: WCKY-FM 103.7 FM (Pemberville)
South Central Area
- LP-1: WPYK 104.1 FM (Portsmouth)
- LP-2: WKKJ 94.3 FM (Chillicothe)
Southeast Area
- LP-1: WOUB-FM 91.3 FM (Athens)
- LP-2: WXTQ 105.5 FM (Athens)
Southwest Area
- LP-1: WLW 700 AM (Cincinnati) - Also National Primary
- LP-2: WRRM 98.5 FM (Cincinnati)
Upper Ohio Valley Area
- LP-1: WEGW 107.5 FM (Wheeling, WV)
- LP-2: WBNV 93.5 FM (Barnesville)
- LP-3: WOUC-FM 89.1 FM (Cambridge)
West Central Area
- LP-1: WHKO 99.1 FM (Dayton)
- LP-2: WTUE 104.7 FM (Dayton)
- LP-3: WEEC 100.7 FM (Springfield)
- LP-3: WHIO-FM 95.7 FM (Piqua)
Youngstown Area
- LP-1: WMXY 98.9 FM (Youngstown)
- LP-2: WYSU 88.5 FM (Youngstown)
Notification Procedures
Emergency Alert Activation Workflow
sequenceDiagram
autonumber
participant Auth as Authorized<br>Official
participant EOC as Emergency<br>Operations Center
participant IPAWS as IPAWS/<br>OEAS System
participant SP as State Primary<br>WNCI
participant LP as Local Primary<br>Stations (12)
participant Part as Participating<br>Stations
participant Public as General<br>Public
Auth->>EOC: Determine Alert Needed
EOC->>IPAWS: Create CAP Message
IPAWS->>SP: Distribute Alert
SP->>LP: Relay to All LPs
LP->>Part: Monitor & Relay
Part->>Public: Broadcast Alert
Public->>Public: Take Action
Note over Auth,Public: Statewide activation: 2-5 minutes<br>Local activation: 1-3 minutes
Authorized Notifiers by Level
graph TB
subgraph "State Level - Statewide Authority"
GOV[Governor of Ohio<br>All Event Types]
EMA[Ohio EMA Director<br>State Emergencies]
OSP[Ohio State Highway Patrol<br>Transportation]
end
subgraph "Federal Level - Weather Only"
NWS[National Weather Service<br>Weather Alerts Only]
end
subgraph "County Level - Local Area Only"
COEMA[County EMA Directors<br>County Emergencies]
SHERIFF[County Sheriffs<br>Law Enforcement]
end
subgraph "Activation Methods"
IPAWS_SYS[IPAWS System]
OEAS[Ohio Digital EAS]
DIRECT[Direct Encoder]
PHONE[Telephone Notifier]
end
GOV --> IPAWS_SYS
EMA --> IPAWS_SYS
EMA --> OEAS
OSP --> IPAWS_SYS
NWS --> IPAWS_SYS
NWS --> DIRECT
COEMA --> PHONE
COEMA --> IPAWS_SYS
SHERIFF --> PHONE
IPAWS_SYS --> BROADCAST[Broadcast Network]
OEAS --> BROADCAST
DIRECT --> BROADCAST
PHONE --> BROADCAST
style GOV fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
style NWS fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style IPAWS_SYS fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
style BROADCAST fill:#2ecc71,stroke:#27ae60,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
Authorized Notifiers
| Level | Officials | Event Types | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Governor of Ohio | All events | IPAWS/OEAS |
| State | Ohio EMA Director | State emergencies | IPAWS/OEAS |
| State | Ohio State Highway Patrol | Transportation emergencies | IPAWS |
| Federal | National Weather Service | Weather alerts only | NOAA WR/IPAWS |
| County | County EMA Directors | Local area only | IPAWS/Phone |
| County | County Sheriffs | Local area only | Phone Notifier |
State Activation Process
graph LR
subgraph "Statewide Alerts"
EOC[Ohio EOC/<br>Joint Dispatch<br>Facility]
PRIVATE[Private<br>Radio Link]
SP[State Primary<br>WNCI 97.9 FM]
IPAWS1[IPAWS<br>Distribution]
OEAS1[Ohio Digital<br>EAS Network]
end
subgraph "Local Alerts"
LOCAL[Local<br>Authority]
LP[Local Primary<br>Stations]
IPAWS2[IPAWS<br>CAP]
DIRECT[Direct<br>Encoder]
end
EOC --> PRIVATE
EOC --> IPAWS1
EOC --> OEAS1
PRIVATE --> SP
IPAWS1 --> SP
OEAS1 --> SP
LOCAL --> LP
LOCAL --> IPAWS2
LOCAL --> DIRECT
IPAWS2 --> LP
DIRECT --> LP
style EOC fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style SP fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
style LP fill:#2ecc71,stroke:#27ae60,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
Statewide Alerts:
- Sent from Ohio Emergency Operations Center/Joint Dispatch Facility (EOC/JDF)
- Connected to State Primary (WNCI) via private radio link
- Distributed via IPAWS and Ohio Digital EAS (OEAS)
Local Alerts:
- Sent to Local Primary stations (LP-1 or LP-2)
- Can be sent via IPAWS or direct encoder connection
- Coordination through Ohio EMA for regional alerts
Weather Alerts
graph TB
subgraph "NWS Offices Serving Ohio"
CLE[NWS Cleveland<br>Northern Ohio]
ILN[NWS Wilmington<br>Southwest Ohio]
PIT[NWS Pittsburgh<br>East Ohio]
IWX[NWS Northern Indiana<br>Northwest Ohio]
RLX[NWS Charleston<br>Southeast Ohio]
end
subgraph "NOAA Weather Radio"
WXK23[Multiple NOAA<br>Transmitters<br>Statewide Coverage]
end
subgraph "Distribution"
SAME[SAME Encoder<br>162.400-162.550 MHz]
IPAWS_W[IPAWS<br>Integration]
end
CLE --> WXK23
ILN --> WXK23
PIT --> WXK23
IWX --> WXK23
RLX --> WXK23
WXK23 --> SAME
WXK23 --> IPAWS_W
SAME --> STATIONS[EAS Station<br>Receivers]
IPAWS_W --> STATIONS
style WXK23 fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
style STATIONS fill:#2ecc71,stroke:#27ae60,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
- Sole Authority: National Weather Service (NWS)
- Primary Method: NOAA Weather Radio SAME (Specific Area Message Encoder)
- Coverage: Multiple NWS offices serve Ohio (see NOAA station list below)
Test Procedures
Testing Hierarchy
graph TB
subgraph "Weekly Tests - RWT"
RWT[Required Weekly Test<br>All Stations<br>Weekly<br>Header + EOM Only]
end
subgraph "Monthly Tests - RMT"
RMT_STATE[Ohio Statewide RMT<br>2nd Wednesday<br>Alternates Day/Night<br>Full System Test]
RMT_IPAWS[IPAWS RMT<br>Minimum 4/year<br>Tests IPAWS Path]
RMT_OEAS[OEAS CAP RMT<br>Minimum 4/year<br>Tests Ohio Digital EAS]
end
subgraph "National Tests"
NPT[National Periodic Test<br>Annual or As Scheduled<br>Tests National System]
end
RWT -->|Weekly| STATIONS[All EAS<br>Stations]
RMT_STATE -->|Monthly| STATIONS
RMT_IPAWS -->|Quarterly+| STATIONS
RMT_OEAS -->|Quarterly+| STATIONS
NPT -->|Annual| STATIONS
style RWT fill:#95a5a6,stroke:#7f8c8d,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style RMT_STATE fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style RMT_IPAWS fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style RMT_OEAS fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style NPT fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style STATIONS fill:#2ecc71,stroke:#27ae60,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
Required Weekly Test (RWT)
- Conducted weekly by all stations
- Tests EAS header and end-of-message codes
- FCC mandated
- No audio message required
- Must be logged
Required Monthly Test (RMT)
gantt
title Ohio Statewide RMT Schedule (Annual Cycle)
dateFormat MM-DD
axisFormat %B
section Daytime 9:50 AM
January SP/LP-1 :milestone, 01-08, 0d
March SP/LP-1 (1st Wed):milestone, 03-06, 0d
May SP/LP-2 :milestone, 05-14, 0d
July SP/LP-1 :milestone, 07-09, 0d
September SP/LP-2 :milestone, 09-10, 0d
November SP/LP-1 :milestone, 11-12, 0d
section Nighttime 3:50 AM
February SP/LP-2 :crit, milestone, 02-12, 0d
April SP/LP-1 :crit, milestone, 04-09, 0d
June SP/LP-2 :crit, milestone, 06-11, 0d
August SP/LP-1 :crit, milestone, 08-13, 0d
October SP/LP-1 :crit, milestone, 10-08, 0d
December SP/LP-2 :crit, milestone, 12-10, 0d
Statewide tests conducted by Ohio EOC:
- Schedule: 2nd Wednesday of each month (except March - see below)
- Tests alternate between day/night and LP-1/LP-2
- Must be retransmitted within 60 minutes
- Full audio message transmitted
RMT Schedule
| Month | Week | Time Frame | Time | Relay Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2nd Wed | Daytime | 9:50 AM | SP/LP-1 |
| February | 2nd Wed | Nighttime | 3:50 AM | SP/LP-2 |
| March | **1st Wed*** | Daytime | 9:50 AM | SP/LP-1 |
| April | 2nd Wed | Nighttime | 3:50 AM | SP/LP-1 |
| May | 2nd Wed | Daytime | 9:50 AM | SP/LP-2 |
| June | 2nd Wed | Nighttime | 3:50 AM | SP/LP-2 |
| July | 2nd Wed | Daytime | 9:50 AM | SP/LP-1 |
| August | 2nd Wed | Nighttime | 3:50 AM | SP/LP-1 |
| September | 2nd Wed | Daytime | 9:50 AM | SP/LP-2 |
| October | 2nd Wed | Nighttime | 3:50 AM | SP/LP-1 |
| November | 2nd Wed | Daytime | 9:50 AM | SP/LP-1 |
| December | 2nd Wed | Nighttime | 3:50 AM | SP/LP-2 |
*March test conducted 1st Wednesday during Severe Weather Awareness Week
IPAWS & OEAS Testing
graph LR
subgraph "Annual Requirements"
IPAWS_MIN[IPAWS Tests<br>Minimum 4 RMTs<br>Per Year]
OEAS_MIN[OEAS CAP Tests<br>Minimum 4 RMTs<br>Per Year]
end
subgraph "Testing Paths"
IPAWS_PATH[IPAWS<br>Distribution<br>Path]
OEAS_PATH[Ohio Digital EAS<br>CAP Network<br>Path]
end
subgraph "Verification"
LOG[Test Logs<br>Documentation]
COMPLIANCE[FCC<br>Compliance]
end
IPAWS_MIN --> IPAWS_PATH
OEAS_MIN --> OEAS_PATH
IPAWS_PATH --> LOG
OEAS_PATH --> LOG
LOG --> COMPLIANCE
style IPAWS_MIN fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style OEAS_MIN fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
style COMPLIANCE fill:#2ecc71,stroke:#27ae60,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
- Minimum 4 RMTs annually via IPAWS
- Minimum 4 RMTs annually via OEAS CAP network
- Tests verify multiple distribution paths
- Ensures redundancy and reliability
EAS Message Format
Four-Part Structure
Preamble & EAS Header (transmitted 3x with 1-second pauses)
- Originator code
- Event code
- Location code (FIPS)
- Duration
- Date/time
- Sender ID (8 characters)
Audio Attention Signal (8 seconds, two-tone)
Message Text (maximum 2 minutes)
- Ohio Opening: "WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM TO ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM"
- Message body
- Ohio Closing: "THIS CONCLUDES THIS EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM MESSAGE"
End of Message Code (transmitted 3x with 1-second pauses)
Station Identification Codes
Format Examples:
- WHBCAMFM - Combo station (WHBC AM/FM)
- WHBCFM - Single FM station
- WLWAM - Single AM station
- NWS/KCLE - NWS Cleveland
- STARCOEM - Stark County EMA
- STARCOSO - Stark County Sheriff
- OHIOSTEM - State EOC/EMA
- CLEVOH11 - Cable system (location #11)
Station Requirements
Equipment Requirements
All Stations Must Have:
- FCC-certified EAS encoder/decoder
- Audio inputs from LP-1 and LP-2 stations
- NOAA Weather Radio input (strongly recommended)
LP Stations Must Also Have: 4. Telephone coupler for Notifier access 5. Additional monitoring capability for cross-area relay 6. 24-hour operation (attended or automated)
Decoder Programming
Radio/TV Stations:
- Program all Warning Event Codes (required)
- Program all county location codes within secondary coverage contour
- Configure for automatic relay if unattended
Cable Systems:
- Program all Warning Event Codes (required)
- Program county codes for all counties covered (whole or partial)
- Configure per FCC Rules 11.51(g) and 11.51(h)
Monitoring Assignments
Required Monitoring:
- All stations: Monitor LP-1 and LP-2 for their operational area
- LP stations: Monitor other LP stations per attachment map
- Recommended: Monitor appropriate NOAA weather radio
LP-3 Stations:
- Designated to bridge operational areas
- Used when LP-1 or LP-2 signal unreliable
Ohio EAS Monitoring Network
Network Architecture Overview
The Ohio EAS Monitoring Network consists of a hierarchical structure with National Primary (NP), State Primary (SP), and Local Primary (LP) stations across Ohio's 12 operational areas. The following sections break down this network by level and region for clarity.
National and State Level Hierarchy
graph TB
subgraph "National Level"
NP1[WTAM 1100 AM<br>Cleveland - National Primary]
NP2[WLW 700 AM<br>Cincinnati - National Primary]
end
subgraph "State Level"
SP1[WNCI 97.9 FM<br>Columbus - State Primary]
SP2[WBNS-FM 97.1 FM<br>Columbus - State Alternate]
end
%% National to State connections
NP1 --> SP1
NP2 --> SP1
SP1 --> SP2
classDef national fill:#e74c3c,stroke:#c0392b,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
classDef state fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
class NP1,NP2 national
class SP1,SP2 state
National Primary Stations:
- WTAM 1100 AM (Cleveland) - Serves Northern Ohio
- WLW 700 AM (Cincinnati) - Serves Southern Ohio
State Primary Stations:
- WNCI 97.9 FM (Columbus) - State Primary, receives from NP stations
- WBNS-FM 97.1 FM (Columbus) - State Alternate
Central Ohio Region
graph TB
SP1[State Primary<br>WNCI 97.9 FM]
subgraph "Central Area - Columbus"
C_LP1[LP-1: WNCI 97.9 FM]
C_LP2[LP-2: WBNS-FM 97.1 FM]
C_LP3[LP-3: WHIZ-FM 92.7 FM<br>Zanesville]
end
SP1 --> C_LP1
C_LP1 --> C_LP2
C_LP1 --> C_LP3
C_LP2 --> C_LP3
classDef state fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
classDef lp1 fill:#2ecc71,stroke:#27ae60,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
classDef lp2 fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
classDef lp3 fill:#9b59b6,stroke:#8e44ad,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
class SP1 state
class C_LP1 lp1
class C_LP2 lp2
class C_LP3 lp3
Stations:
- LP-1: WNCI 97.9 FM (Columbus)
- LP-2: WBNS-FM 97.1 FM (Columbus)
- LP-3: WHIZ-FM 92.7 FM (Zanesville)
Northern Ohio Region
graph TB
SP1[State Primary<br>WNCI 97.9 FM]
subgraph "Central & East Lakeshore - Cleveland"
CEL_LP1[LP-1: WTAM 1100 AM]
CEL_LP1A[LP-1A: WAKS-FM 96.5 FM<br>Alt. LP-1 since Jan 2026]
CEL_LP2[LP-2: WCLV 90.3 FM]
CEL_LP3[LP-3: WKSV 89.1 FM<br>Thompson]
end
subgraph "Youngstown Area"
Y_LP1[LP-1: WMXY 98.9 FM]
Y_LP2[LP-2: WYSU 88.5 FM]
end
subgraph "East Central - Canton"
EC_LP1[LP-1: WHBC-FM 94.1 FM]
EC_LP2[LP-2: WQMX 94.9 FM<br>Medina]
end
SP1 --> CEL_LP1
SP1 --> CEL_LP1A
SP1 --> Y_LP1
SP1 --> EC_LP1
CEL_LP1 --> CEL_LP2
CEL_LP1 --> CEL_LP3
CEL_LP1A --> CEL_LP2
CEL_LP2 --> CEL_LP3
Y_LP1 --> Y_LP2
EC_LP1 --> EC_LP2
classDef state fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
classDef lp1 fill:#2ecc71,stroke:#27ae60,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
classDef lp1a fill:#1abc9c,stroke:#16a085,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
classDef lp2 fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
classDef lp3 fill:#9b59b6,stroke:#8e44ad,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
class SP1 state
class CEL_LP1,Y_LP1,EC_LP1 lp1
class CEL_LP1A lp1a
class CEL_LP2,Y_LP2,EC_LP2 lp2
class CEL_LP3 lp3
Cleveland/Lakeshore:
- LP-1: WTAM 1100 AM (Cleveland)
- LP-1A: WAKS-FM 96.5 FM (Brecksville) — alternative LP-1 option since January 2026
- LP-2: WCLV 90.3 FM (Cleveland)
- LP-3: WKSV 89.1 FM (Thompson)
Youngstown:
- LP-1: WMXY 98.9 FM (Youngstown)
- LP-2: WYSU 88.5 FM (Youngstown)
Canton:
- LP-1: WHBC-FM 94.1 FM (Canton)
- LP-2: WQMX 94.9 FM (Medina)
Northwest Ohio Region
graph TB
SP1[State Primary<br>WNCI 97.9 FM]
subgraph "Northwest - Toledo"
NW_LP1[LP-1: WRVF 101.5 FM]
NW_LP2[LP-2: WIOT 104.7 FM]
NW_LP3A[LP-3: WDFM 98.1 FM<br>Defiance]
NW_LP3B[LP-3: WCKY-FM 103.7 FM<br>Pemberville]
end
subgraph "Lima Area"
L_LP1[LP-1: WIMT 102.1 FM]
L_LP2[LP-2: WKXA 100.5 FM<br>Findlay]
end
subgraph "North Central - Mansfield"
NC_LP1[LP-1: WVNO 106.1 FM]
NC_LP2[LP-2: WNCO-FM 101.3 FM<br>Ashland]
end
SP1 --> NW_LP1
SP1 --> L_LP1
SP1 --> NC_LP1
NW_LP1 --> NW_LP2
NW_LP1 --> NW_LP3A
NW_LP1 --> NW_LP3B
NW_LP2 --> NW_LP3A
NW_LP2 --> NW_LP3B
L_LP1 --> L_LP2
NC_LP1 --> NC_LP2
classDef state fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
classDef lp1 fill:#2ecc71,stroke:#27ae60,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
classDef lp2 fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
classDef lp3 fill:#9b59b6,stroke:#8e44ad,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
class SP1 state
class NW_LP1,L_LP1,NC_LP1 lp1
class NW_LP2,L_LP2,NC_LP2 lp2
class NW_LP3A,NW_LP3B lp3
Toledo:
- LP-1: WRVF 101.5 FM (Toledo)
- LP-2: WIOT 104.7 FM (Toledo)
- LP-3: WDFM 98.1 FM (Defiance)
- LP-3: WCKY-FM 103.7 FM (Pemberville)
Lima:
- LP-1: WIMT 102.1 FM (Lima)
- LP-2: WKXA 100.5 FM (Findlay)
Mansfield:
- LP-1: WVNO 106.1 FM (Mansfield)
- LP-2: WNCO-FM 101.3 FM (Ashland)
Southwest Ohio Region
graph TB
SP1[State Primary<br>WNCI 97.9 FM]
subgraph "Southwest - Cincinnati"
SW_LP1[LP-1: WLW 700 AM]
SW_LP2[LP-2: WRRM 98.5 FM]
end
subgraph "West Central - Dayton"
WC_LP1[LP-1: WHKO 99.1 FM]
WC_LP2[LP-2: WTUE 104.7 FM]
WC_LP3A[LP-3: WEEC 100.7 FM<br>Springfield]
WC_LP3B[LP-3: WHIO-FM 95.7 FM<br>Piqua]
end
SP1 --> SW_LP1
SP1 --> WC_LP1
SW_LP1 --> SW_LP2
WC_LP1 --> WC_LP2
WC_LP1 --> WC_LP3A
WC_LP1 --> WC_LP3B
WC_LP2 --> WC_LP3A
WC_LP2 --> WC_LP3B
classDef state fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
classDef lp1 fill:#2ecc71,stroke:#27ae60,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
classDef lp2 fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
classDef lp3 fill:#9b59b6,stroke:#8e44ad,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
class SP1 state
class SW_LP1,WC_LP1 lp1
class SW_LP2,WC_LP2 lp2
class WC_LP3A,WC_LP3B lp3
Cincinnati:
- LP-1: WLW 700 AM (Cincinnati)
- LP-2: WRRM 98.5 FM (Cincinnati)
Dayton:
- LP-1: WHKO 99.1 FM (Dayton)
- LP-2: WTUE 104.7 FM (Dayton)
- LP-3: WEEC 100.7 FM (Springfield)
- LP-3: WHIO-FM 95.7 FM (Piqua)
Southeast Ohio Region
graph TB
SP1[State Primary<br>WNCI 97.9 FM]
subgraph "Southeast - Athens"
SE_LP1[LP-1: WOUB-FM 91.3 FM]
SE_LP2[LP-2: WXTQ 105.5 FM]
end
subgraph "South Central - Portsmouth"
SC_LP1[LP-1: WPYK 104.1 FM]
SC_LP2[LP-2: WKKJ 94.3 FM<br>Chillicothe]
end
subgraph "Upper Ohio Valley"
UOV_LP1[LP-1: WEGW 107.5 FM<br>Wheeling, WV]
UOV_LP2[LP-2: WBNV 93.5 FM<br>Barnesville]
UOV_LP3[LP-3: WOUC-FM 89.1 FM<br>Cambridge]
end
SP1 --> SE_LP1
SP1 --> SC_LP1
SP1 --> UOV_LP1
SE_LP1 --> SE_LP2
SC_LP1 --> SC_LP2
UOV_LP1 --> UOV_LP2
UOV_LP1 --> UOV_LP3
UOV_LP2 --> UOV_LP3
classDef state fill:#3498db,stroke:#2980b9,stroke-width:3px,color:#fff
classDef lp1 fill:#2ecc71,stroke:#27ae60,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
classDef lp2 fill:#f39c12,stroke:#e67e22,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
classDef lp3 fill:#9b59b6,stroke:#8e44ad,stroke-width:2px,color:#fff
class SP1 state
class SE_LP1,SC_LP1,UOV_LP1 lp1
class SE_LP2,SC_LP2,UOV_LP2 lp2
class UOV_LP3 lp3
Athens:
- LP-1: WOUB-FM 91.3 FM (Athens)
- LP-2: WXTQ 105.5 FM (Athens)
Portsmouth:
- LP-1: WPYK 104.1 FM (Portsmouth)
- LP-2: WKKJ 94.3 FM (Chillicothe)
Upper Ohio Valley:
- LP-1: WEGW 107.5 FM (Wheeling, WV)
- LP-2: WBNV 93.5 FM (Barnesville)
- LP-3: WOUC-FM 89.1 FM (Cambridge)
Network Legend
| Color | Designation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 🔴 Red | National Primary (NP) | Receives alerts from federal authorities, distributes to state level |
| 🔵 Blue | State Primary (SP) | Receives from NP stations, distributes to all LP-1 stations statewide |
| 🟢 Green | Local Primary 1 (LP-1) | Primary monitoring source for each operational area |
| 🟠 Orange | Local Primary 2 (LP-2) | Backup to LP-1, monitors LP-1 |
| 🟣 Purple | Local Primary 3 (LP-3) | Bridges operational areas, covers gaps in LP-1/LP-2 coverage |
Monitoring Requirements by Station Type
All Participating Stations
- MUST monitor both LP-1 and LP-2 for their operational area
- SHOULD monitor appropriate NOAA Weather Radio
- MUST relay EAN (Emergency Action Notification) immediately
LP-1 Stations (Primary)
- MUST monitor State Primary (WNCI 97.9 FM)
- MUST monitor other LP stations in adjacent areas (per FCC attachment)
- SHOULD monitor National Primary stations when practical
LP-2 Stations (Secondary)
- MUST monitor corresponding LP-1 in their area
- MUST monitor State Primary (WNCI 97.9 FM)
- Acts as backup if LP-1 fails or signal unreliable
LP-3 Stations (Tertiary/Bridge)
- MUST monitor both LP-1 and LP-2 in their area
- PRIMARY PURPOSE: Bridge coverage gaps between operational areas
- SECONDARY PURPOSE: Provide redundancy when LP-1 or LP-2 signal unreliable
- DEPLOYMENT: Strategic placement in border counties or signal-challenged areas
Alert Flow Path Example
sequenceDiagram
participant Fed as Federal Authority<br>(FEMA/NWS)
participant NP as National Primary<br>WTAM/WLW
participant SP as State Primary<br>WNCI
participant LP1 as LP-1 Stations<br>(12 Areas)
participant LP2 as LP-2 Stations<br>(Backup)
participant LP3 as LP-3 Stations<br>(Bridge)
participant PS as Participating Stations<br>(Broadcast/Cable)
Fed->>NP: Emergency Alert Issued
NP->>SP: Alert Transmitted
SP->>LP1: Alert Distributed Statewide
LP1->>LP2: LP-2 Monitors LP-1
LP1->>LP3: LP-3 Monitors LP-1
LP2->>LP3: LP-3 Monitors LP-2
LP1->>PS: All Stations Monitor LP-1
LP2->>PS: All Stations Monitor LP-2
LP3->>PS: Bridge Areas Monitor LP-3
PS->>PS: Stations Relay to Public
Cross-Area Monitoring
Some operational areas have overlapping coverage or require cross-monitoring:
- Cleveland (CEL) ↔ Youngstown: Geographic proximity requires coordination
- Toledo (NW) ↔ Lima: LP-3 stations bridge these areas
- Dayton (WC) ↔ Cincinnati (SW): I-75 corridor coordination
- Upper Ohio Valley ↔ Southeast: Appalachian region coverage
- Central (Columbus) → All Areas: State Primary hub
Committee Contacts
State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC)
Chair
| Name | Greg Savoldi |
| Organization | Radio Station WNCI |
| Address | 2323 West 5th Avenue, Suite 200<br>Columbus, OH 43204 |
| Phone | 614-487-2485 |
| Mobile | 614-496-2121 |
| gregsavoldi@iheartmedia.com |
Vice-Chair
| Name | Dave Ford |
| Organization | Ohio Emergency Management Agency |
| Address | 2855 West Dublin-Granville Road<br>Columbus, OH 43235-2206 |
| Phone | 614-889-7154 |
| 24/7 Line | 614-889-7150 |
| rdford@dps.state.oh.us |
Cable Co-Chair
| Name | Jonathon McGee |
| Title | Executive Director |
| Organization | Ohio Cable Telecommunications Association |
| Address | 50 West Broad Street, Suite 1118<br>Columbus, OH 43215 |
| Phone | 614-461-4014 |
| jmcgee@octa.org |
Local Area Chairs
Complete contact information for all 12 operational area chairs and vice-chairs is provided in the sections above.
NOAA Weather Radio Stations Serving Ohio
Primary Stations
| Call Sign | City | Frequency | Counties Served |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDO-94 | Akron | 162.40 | Ashland, Carroll, Columbiana, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Wayne, Stark |
| KHB-97 | Bellevue | 162.40 | Ashland, Crawford, Erie, Hancock, Huron, Lorain, Ottawa, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Wood, Wyandot |
| KIG-86 | Columbus | 162.55 | Athens, Champaign, Clark, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hocking, Knox, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Union, Vinton |
| WXL-51 | Holland | 162.55 | Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, Wood (Defiance, Williams relay) |
| WXJ-93 | Lima | 162.40 | Allen, Auglaize, Hancock, Hardin, Logan, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Shelby, Van Wert, Wyandot |
| WWG-57 | Mansfield | 162.450 | Ashland, Crawford, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Wayne, Wyandot |
| WXJ-46 | Miamisburg | 162.475 | Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Darke, Greene, Logan, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby, Warren |
| WWG-56 | Youngstown | 162.500 | Carroll, Columbiana, Lawrence, Mahoning, Portage, Stark, Trumbull |
See full NOAA station list in Attachment II of plan document
Legal & Compliance
Participation
- Participation in Ohio EAS is voluntary at state/local levels
- If activated, all participating facilities expected to follow plan
- Stations have permission to rebroadcast Ohio EAS messages
- Unattended stations must operate in automatic mode
Liability
- Stations retain independent discretion in emergencies
- Originating stations deemed to have conferred rebroadcast authority
- No station prohibited from exercising independent judgment
FCC Requirements
- 47 CFR Part 11 - Complete EAS regulations
- Stations must follow FCC rules even if not in state plan
- Special provisions for power/hours during EAS activation
Updates & Revisions
Current Status
- Plan Date: December 2018
- FCC Approval: March 18, 2019
Amendments
January 2026 — WAKS-FM 96.5 FM LP-1A Designation
Issued by Greg Savoldi, Chairman – State of Ohio SECC (January 12, 2026):
- 96.5 WAKS-FM (Brecksville, OH) is now designated LP-1A for the Central & East Lakeshore EAS Operational Area.
- Operators in this area may monitor either WTAM 1100 AM or WAKS-FM 96.5 FM to satisfy the LP-1 monitoring requirement. No FCC or SECC filing is required to make the switch.
- WAKS-FM provides a static-free FM alternative to WTAM, whose AM signal is increasingly affected by man-made electrical and wireless interference. Coverage reaches approximately 40 air miles from Brecksville within the 60 dBu contour.
- WCLV 90.3 FM (Cleveland) remains the required LP-2 monitoring source. All stations must continue monitoring at least two LP-class stations.
- Contact: Greg Savoldi — gregsavoldi@iheartmedia.com
- Source: OAB/SECC Memorandum — WAKS-FM LP1A Announcement, January 12, 2026
References
- FCC EAS Rules - 47 CFR Part 11
- FCC EAS Operating Handbook
- Ohio Emergency Management Agency: 614-889-7150 (24/7)
- FCC Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau
Document Information
Prepared From: State of Ohio Emergency Alert System (EAS) Plan, December 2018 FCC Approval Date: March 18, 2019 Documentation Created: 2025-01-12 Last Amended: 2026-01-12 — WAKS-FM 96.5 FM LP-1A designation for Central & East Lakeshore
Supersedes: All previously published State EAS Plans
This documentation is derived from the official Ohio EAS Plan approved by the FCC. For official use, refer to the original PDF document.
This document is served from docs/reference/OHIO_EAS_DOCUMENTATION.md in the EAS Station installation.