The Federal Emergency Management Agency, commonly known as FEMA, announced it is planning a nationwide test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) on Wednesday.
The alert will be delivered to cell phones, wireless devices, radios, and televisions, at 2:20 p.m. Eastern time.
The message will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
The national test will help ensure that Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) continue to be effective ways to warn the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level,” FEMA noted in a news releas
FEMA said the Wireless Emergency Alerts portion of the test will be sent to all consumer cell phones. The message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.
“All major U.S. wireless providers participate in Wireless Emergency Alerts and will transmit the national test to their subscribers,” according to FEMA. “If your mobile phone is on and within range of an active cell tower from a participating wireless provider, you should receive the national test. Wireless providers will transmit the national test for 30 minutes, but your phone should only receive it once.”
The Emergency Alert System portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions.
FEMA said it is a standard test that occurs at least once every three years.”The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level,” FEMA noted. “In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11.”
