WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will run state-wide tests in Alaska on Wednesday of the country’s Emergency Alert System, which uses television and radio to inform the public in the event of a national emergency.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a statement that the tests, which have been planned since September, would be conducted at 10 a.m. (2 p.m. EST/1900 GMT).

U.S. airport security has been stepped up since a botched attempt on Christmas Day to blow up a Detroit-bound flight from Amsterdam using explosives smuggled on board.