Don’t be surprised when your phone blasts an alarm Wednesday afternoon. The federal government is conducting a nationwide emergency alert test, meaning messages will be sent to all cell phones, televisions, and radios. Here’s what to know.
Who is doing the test?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC). FEMA is required by law to conduct national tests of the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) at least once every 3 years. The last national test was in 2021.
According to a release from FEMA, the purpose of the test “is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.”
When will the test be conducted?
Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 1:20 p.m. CT on October 4. In case the test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the backup testing date is October 11.
What will the messages look like?
The national test will consist of two portions, testing the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).
The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration. The message will read as follows:
- “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display:
- “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. It will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages. It will state:
- “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”
