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Nationwide wireless alert test to take place Wednesday

October 3, 2018

The Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and Emergency Alert System (EAS) programs will send national test messages on Oct. 3. 

WEA messages will begin at 2:18 p.m. and EAS messages at 2:20 p.m., according to a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) press release. The nationwide alert test is managed by FEMA along with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

WEA notifies participating wireless providers regarding crisis situations such as missing children and harmful weather. Examples of cell phone messages that are already a part of the program include ones labeled as “Tornado Warning” or “Amber Alert,” however, those messages are regional. This will be the first nationwide message sent through the system.

The message, which cell towers will broadcast for 30 minutes, will be titled "Presidential Alert" with the following text: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

EAS is a similar system for participants including “radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio, television providers and wireline video providers.” The EAS test, which will last for one minute, will include the following text:

“THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert test message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required.”

The alerts will evaluate the “operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message.” Improvements will be made based on the outcome.

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