FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on Wednesday.
At about 2:20 p.m., both systems will be tested. While the EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions, the WEA test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test to all cellular devices -- recall the rude 4:45 a.m. wake-up call we got back in April, when the test was accidently set to happen in the "a.m." rather than "p.m."?
The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the device's language settings.
Here's how it will work: Beginning at 2:20 p.m. Eastern time (it will happen across the country at the same time) cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving this test message: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
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. (In case today's test is postponed due to severe weather or any other significant events, the back-up testing date is next week, Oct. 11.)
The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks. The WEA test will be administered via a code sent to cell phones.
The systems are important tools used to share critical information during an emergency, and law enforcement and emergency management officials recommend that AMBER, Emergency, and Public Safety alerts on your phone are all set to 'ON.'
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FEMA, en coordinación con la Comisión Federal de Comunicaciones (FCC), llevará a cabo una prueba a nivel nacional del Sistema de Alerta de Emergencia (EAS) y las Alertas Inalámbricas de Emergencia (WEA) el 4 de octubre de 2023 aproximadamente a las 2:20 p.m.
El propósito de la prueba del 4 de octubre es garantizar que los sistemas sigan siendo medios eficaces para advertir al público sobre emergencias, particularmente aquellas a nivel nacional. En caso de que la prueba del 4 de octubre se posponga debido a condiciones climáticas severas generalizadas u otros eventos importantes, la fecha de prueba de respaldo es el 11 de octubre.
