Next week, two U.S. federal agencies will conduct a joint, nationwide test of the country's Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system.
FEMA and FCC to conduct nationwide test of emergency alert system on October 4
The trial, first announced in August, is scheduled to begin Wednesday, Oct. 4, at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will attempt to send a message to every consumer cellphone in the U.S. The alert should arrive within 30 minutes, the agencies said.
“THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is required,” the message will read, in either English or Spanish, depending on the user’s language settings. If something, such as an extreme weather event, necessitates a delay in the test, a follow-up attempt will be made on October 11.
At the same time, FEMA and the FCC will conduct a test of the nation's Emergency Alert System (EAS). It will last about a minute, with radio and television stations participating. "The purpose of the test on Oct. 4 is to ensure that the systems remain effective means of alerting the public to emergencies, particularly those occurring at the national level," FEMA said in a press release announcing the test.
