An update about the "false alarm 1971 EBS activation" that happened on February 20, 1971

[Route66Fan]

Using Newspapers.com. I was able to find out that, in addition to WOWO, Ft. Wayne, IN & WCCO, Minneapolis\St. Paul, MN ceasing regular broadcasting for a brief time on the morning on February 20, 1971 due to the false EBS activation, the following radio & TV stations also either briefly ceased programming, or even went off-the-air completely at that time as well (Links to articles are included.):
KGA, Spokane, WA
KJRB, Spokane, WA
KQIN, Burien, WA
KREW, Sunnyside

Most state stations remained on the air

Clipping found in The Bellingham Herald published in Bellingham, Washington on 2/21/1971. Most state stations remained on the air

www.newspapers.com

WVEC-AM & FM, Hampton, VA
WSVA, Petersburg, VA

Virginia

Clipping found in Daily Press published in Newport News, Virginia on 2/21/1971. Virginia

www.newspapers.com

KXL, Portland, OR
KPAM, Portland, OR

Near-Panic Results as False Alert Flashed Across Country & Few Oregon Radio Stations Off Air

Clipping found in Statesman Journal published in Salem, Oregon on 2/21/1971. Near-Panic Results as False Alert Flashed Across Country & Few Oregon Radio Stations Off Air

www.newspapers.com

KFWJ, Phoenix, AZ
KCAS, Slayton, TX
KLLL-FM, Lubbock, TX

Nation Quakes At False Emergency & But Only Two Shut Down-Alert Jolted Area Stations

Clipping found in Lubbock Avalanche-Journal published in Lubbock, Texas on 2/21/1971. Nation Quakes At False Emergency & But Only Two Shut Down-Alert Jolted Area Stations

www.newspapers.com

WWTV, Caddillac, MI & WWUP, Sault Ste. Marie, MI
WSBT-TV, South Bend, IN
WCSR, Hillsdale, MI
WHFB, Benton Harbor, MI
WWAM, Cadillac, MI

Little Excitement, Though Some Stations In State Went Along With Alert

Clipping found in The Kalamazoo Gazette published in Kalamazoo, Michigan on 2/21/1971. Little Excitement, Though Some Stations In State Went Along With Alert

www.newspapers.com

WTBC, Indianapolis, IN
WTMT, Louisville, KY

Mistake puts American civilians on alert

Clipping found in The Courier-Journal published in Louisville, Kentucky on 2/21/1971. Mistake puts American civilians on alert

www.newspapers.com

KXEL Waterloo, IA

Alert

Clipping found in Corpus Christi Times published in Corpus Christi, Texas on 2/21/1971. Alert

www.newspapers.com

KXOK, St. Louis, MO

U.S. Emergency 'Alert' Is Flashed Accidently

Clipping found in Scrantonian Tribune published in Scranton, Pennsylvania on 2/21/1971. U.S. Emergency 'Alert' Is Flashed Accidently

www.newspapers.com

WPOR, Portland, ME
WLKW, Providence, ME

Transmitter of False Alert 'Can't Imagine How... & Stations Remain On Air In N.E.

Clipping found in The Morning Union published in Springfield, Massachusetts on 2/21/1971. Transmitter of False Alert 'Can't Imagine How... & Stations Remain On Air In N.E.

www.newspapers.com

WUWU, Gainesville, FL
WDVH,
WGMA, Hollywood, FL
WMMB, Melbourne, FL
WTRS, Dunnellon, FL

Alert Confuses State Radio-TV Station Staffs

Clipping found in Tallahassee Democrat published in Tallahassee, Florida on 2/21/1971. Alert Confuses State Radio-TV Station Staffs

www.newspapers.com

WLOC, Munfordville, KY
WDOC-AM, Prestonsburg, KY

Mistake puts Americans on an alert

Clipping found in The Courier-Journal published in Louisville, Kentucky on 2/21/1971. Mistake puts Americans on an alert

www.newspapers.com

KXJB-TV, Fargo, ND
KCJB, Minot, ND
KHRT, Minot, ND
KTYN, Minot, ND
KMOT, Minot, ND
KDOM, Windom, MN
WMFG, Hibbing, MN

Reaction & One Caller Feared 'Bomb Was Coming'

Clipping found in The Forum published in Fargo, North Dakota on 2/21/1971. Reaction & One Caller Feared 'Bomb Was Coming'

www.newspapers.com

KRAD East Grand Forks, MN

Reaction & One Caller Feared 'Bomb Was Coming'

Clipping found in The Forum published in Fargo, North Dakota on 2/21/1971. Reaction & One Caller Feared 'Bomb Was Coming'

www.newspapers.com

WMUU Greenville, SC

1 Station In Area Affected

Clipping found in The Greenville News published in Greenville, South Carolina on 2/21/1971. 1 Station In Area Affected

www.newspapers.com

KGKO, Benton, AR
KNEA, Jonesboro, AR
KVSA, McGehee, AR
KPOC, Pocahontas, AR
KWYN, Wynne, AR

Alert Reminiscent Of Pearl Harbor

Clipping found in Times Record published in Fort Smith, Arkansas on 2/21/1971. Alert Reminiscent Of Pearl Harbor

www.newspapers.com

KALL, Salt Lake City, UT
KLUB, Salt Lake City, UT

2 Radio Stations In S.L. Off Air Briefly in 'Alert'

Clipping found in The Salt Lake Tribune published in Salt Lake City, Utah on 2/21/1971. 2 Radio Stations In S.L. Off Air Briefly in 'Alert'

www.newspapers.com

WIBC, Indianapolis, IN

Indiana Stations Off Air

Clipping found in The Herald-Times published in Bloomington, Indiana on 2/21/1971. Indiana Stations Off Air

www.newspapers.com

KCCO, Lawton, OK
KNIB, Poteau, OK
KRPT, Anadarko, OK

Sooner Stations Sing On

Clipping found in The Lawton Constitution And Morning Press published in Lawton, Oklahoma on 2/21/1971. Sooner Stations Sing On

www.newspapers.com

WCBM Baltimore, MD

Only WCBM Becomes Silent Here In Response To Alert

Clipping found in The Baltimore Sun published in Baltimore, Maryland on 2/21/1971. Only WCBM Becomes Silent Here In Response To Alert

www.newspapers.com

KMTY-FM, Clovis, NM

'Alert' Shuts Down Two Clovis Stations

Clipping found in Clovis News-Journal published in Clovis, New Mexico on 2/21/1971. 'Alert' Shuts Down Two Clovis Stations

www.newspapers.com

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

WLKW (now WWBB) is in Providence RI, not ME.

 

[tvnut]

The reporter at the Courier-Journal mixed the call letters for Indianapolis' WIBC.

 

[ted chittenden]

When I arrived for the first time with my radio to Phoenix, AZ in July of 1971, I found no station with the callsign KFWJ. Unfortunately, I am not able to read the clippings with screenreading software. So, if anybody on this forum knows, please enlighten me on what radio frequency KFWJ was on in Phoenix at the time of the false EBS alert. Thank you in advance.

 

[Brian Lowe]

So, if anybody on this forum knows, please enlighten me on what radio frequency KFWJ was on in Phoenix at the time of the false EBS alert. Thank you in advance.

Not surprising you didn't hear it. Looking at the history cards for modern-day KNTR 980 in Lake Havasu City, I see that it was that facility that had the KFWJ calls at the time.

 

[PTBoardOp93]

When I arrived for the first time with my radio to Phoenix, AZ in July of 1971, I found no station with the callsign KFWJ. Unfortunately, I am not able to read the clippings with screenreading software.

KFWJ was in Lake Havasu City, Arizona on 980 KHz. The station never covered Phoenix itself, or any portion of Maracopa county. KFWJ is now KNTR.

 

[Route66Fan]

WLKW (now WWBB) is in Providence RI, not ME.

Thanks for the correction.

 

[Route66Fan]

When I arrived for the first time with my radio to Phoenix, AZ in July of 1971, I found no station with the callsign KFWJ. Unfortunately, I am not able to read the clippings with screenreading software. So, if anybody on this forum knows, please enlighten me on what radio frequency KFWJ was on in Phoenix at the time of the false EBS alert. Thank you in advance.

Not surprising you didn't hear it. Looking at the history cards for modern-day KNTR 980 in Lake Havasu City, I see that it was that facility that had the KFWJ calls at the time.

KFWJ was in Lake Havasu City, Arizona on 980 KHz. The station never covered Phoenix itself, or any portion of Maracopa county. KFWJ is now KNTR.

That one completely threw me off.

 

[Route66Fan]

The reporter at the Courier-Journal mixed the call letters for Indianapolis' WIBC.

What was their callsign?

 

[bigdonho]

I was working at a small station in NC at the time. The alert came over the AP wire at the usual time of the weekly test. Ten bells followed by a row of X's. The code word according to the orange envelope was "HATEFULNESS". However the local primary station didn't send out an alert and soon the cancellation message came across the wire with the wrong code word. Then the cancellation message came across with the correct code word. What a mess.

 

[Jason Roberts]

I can offer a personal anecdote told to me by some people involved in radio stations in my hometown on that date. WHIO-AM in Dayton (as well as WING, WAVI and WONE) all had local news departments back then. At WHIO, the Saturday morning newsperson heard the bells on the teletype in the newsroom, saw the message and did what they were supposed to do. But, the message came at a time when they normally got the "test" and questioned the message a bit. He said, "I'd better call our Washington Correspondent" (yes, they had one back then). The Washington Correspondent said, "I'd better call the White House". He did. What Richard Nixon said is unknown, but you can bet it included some "expletive deleteds". Downtown at WING, I am told the young part timer doing Saturday mornings called GM Jim Bennett at home and asked if they should sign off. Bennett's reported reply? "Sign off? Hell, we're sold out! Keep playing those commercials!" I'm sure the news department handled it, though.