RENO, NV - Flip through the newspaper on any day and you can't help but see the headlines of death and destruction caused by a natural disaster.

The problems can be man caused as well and they aren't just relegated to somewhere else in the world.

“An earthquake for instance and we do have flooding in our area, last flood that we had pretty much hit a lot of our residents our homes and hit our downtown--pretty harsh,” says Deputy Armando Avina with Washoe County Sheriffs Office.

When life and property are at stake, the Emergency Alert System can kick in and is broadcast over television and radio.

Wednesday for the first time in its history the system will be tested on both a state and nationwide basis simultaneously.

”Yes, this is the first time the federal government has ever tested this system that they've had for years for generations,” says Adrienne Abbott, Nevada’s EAS Coordinator.

But a lot has changed since the system's inception back in 1963--specifically cable, digital, and dish networks.

If you are watching television through those systems, you could get confused.

“You're going to get a message that says there's a national emergency. Well, there is no national emergency--can't say about any other time,” says Abbott.

Wednesday at 11 in the morning the EAS system will be put through the paces.

But Abbott says this test should test you as well.

Do you have enough food, water and medication to last you through three days?

Do you have a working AM radio with fresh batteries, because Abbott says that is probably going to be the most reliable source to get information when disaster strikes.