The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a national test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System on Wednesday, Oct. 4*. This is inclusive of Wireless Emergency Alerts, and a test alert will be sent to all wireless phones.
Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Oct. 4, 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 receive the test message.
The test message will state: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”