FEMA to conduct nationwide emergency alert test

By Alvin Wu
Domestic Affairs
FEMA to conduct nationwide emergency alert test

Logo of the Federal Emergency Management agency, which is conducting the national emergency alert tests. FEMA/Logo

EDISON, N.J., Oct. 2 (ZFJ) — The federal government will test two national emergency alert systems on Wednesday, Oct. 4, starting at about 14:20 (2:20 p.m.) EDT.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in conjunction with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct the two-part test.

The first portion will test Wireless Emergency Alerts, which are directed at cell phones.

For 30 minutes, cell towers will broadcast the message “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” The message will display in English or Spanish depending on phone settings and should only be received once.

The Wireless Emergency Alert notification that appeared on mobile phones (seen here on an iPhone) at 14:18 EST when the test was conducted. ZFJ/Alvin Wu The Wireless Emergency Alert notification that appeared on mobile phones (seen here on an iPhone) at 14:18 EST when the test was conducted. ZFJ/Alvin Wu

The second portion will test the Emergency Alert System and is directed at radios and televisions.

It will last about one minute and display the message “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.”

FEMA will start the WEA test using the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), its centralized and internet-based platform for sending authenticated emergency messages.

The government will disseminate the EAS test as a Common Alerting Protocol message through the IPAWS-Open Platform for Emergency Networks.

Wednesday’s test will be the third national WEA test, second test for all cellular devices, and seventh national EAS test.

References