On Wednesday, November 9th at 1pm Central Standard Time, the FCC will conduct its first nationwide test of the Emergency Broadcast System (EAS).  The purpose of the test is to assess the reliability and effectiveness of the system in alerting the public.  Local and and state components are tested weekly and monthly, but there has never been an end-to-end nationwide test of the system.  Wednesday’s alert will be transmitted throughout the country and will be monitored by EAS participants.  The participants will then report the results of the test to the FCC.  The test will involve only those communications service providers that participate in the EAS.  It will not include mobile communications devices.

For more information, go to www.fcc.gov.

The Round Rock City Council unanimously approved Thursday, October 27th, an amendment to the Drought Management Plan that expands Stage II restrictions to include mandatory once-a-week watering.

The new schedule will not go into effect until a required second reading vote on November 10th, but City officials are urging customers to begin following the schedule now because of the extended drought and because the intake at Lake Stillhouse Hollow was just declared operational by the Brazos River Authority (BRA).

The once-a-week schedule allows residential customers with odd-numbered addresses to water on Saturday, residential customers with even-numbered addresses to water on Sunday, and commercial and multi-family customers to water on Friday.  For more information, visit www.roundrocktexas.gov.