A Nationwide Emergency Alert Test Will Be Conducted On Wednesday

(CTN News) – You’re warned. On Wednesday afternoon, the government will test the Emergency Alert Test system nationwide.

All of the cellphones, televisions, and radios in the area will receive the test messages. There will be both sound and vibration in the test, depending on the device.

As part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s preparation for actual emergencies, the Federal Communications Commission is conducting this test with the help of the FEMA. The purpose of the test is to ensure that the emergency messaging system is running smoothly in the event of a natural disaster, terrorism, or other threat to the safety of the general public.

You may be familiar with the jolting sounds accompanying warnings from the Emergency Alert Test National Weather Service and AMBER (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) alerts. We will be using the same wireless system to send Wednesday’s cellphone alerts.

Can you tell me when the test is going to take place?

It is expected that the test will begin at about 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, October 4th.

There is a 30 minute testing window, but you should only receive the message once during that period. During the following week, a backup test will be conducted in case an emergency occurs on that day.

How will the test message appear?

The alert will appear as follows on a cellphone:

This is a test of the National Wireless Emergency Alert Test System. No action is required.” Spanish phones will display: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert Test System. No action is required.”

There will be an announcement on TV and radio about:

There will be a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert Test System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 ET. This is just a test and there is no need for the public to take any action.

What is the purpose of the Emergency Alert Test? Why is it being conducted?

There is a law that requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct national tests of its Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) at least once every three years, as required by law. A national test was conducted in the year 2021, which was the last one.

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