Washington D.C. – A nationwide alert will be issued to all radios, televisions, and cellphones on October 4th, 2023. There is no need to contact law enforcement or to call 911. This will only a test, not a real emergency.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in collaboration with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is gearing up for a comprehensive nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this week.
This nationwide examination will encompass two key components, assessing the capabilities of both WEA and EAS. The tests are scheduled to commence at approximately 1:20 p.m. CST on Wednesday, October 4th.
The WEA segment of the test will be directed towards all consumer cell phones. While this marks the third nationwide test, it will be the second one to include all cellular devices. The test message will be displayed in either English or Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless device.
On the other hand, the EAS portion of the test will be transmitted to radios and televisions, marking the seventh nationwide EAS test.
FEMA and the FCC are working in close coordination with EAS participants, wireless service providers, emergency management agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure the national test goes smoothly, minimizing confusion while maximizing its public safety impact.
The primary objective of the October 4th test is to reaffirm that these systems remain effective tools for informing the public about emergencies, especially those of national significance. In the event that severe weather or other significant events necessitate a postponement, the backup testing date is set for October 11th.
The WEA segment of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based platform administered by FEMA that enables authorities to deliver authenticated emergency messages to the public through various communication networks. The WEA test will be transmitted via a code sent to cell phones.
This year, the EAS message will be disseminated as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS-OPEN).
During the nationwide WEA test, wireless phones should receive the message only once. Here’s what to expect:
– Beginning at approximately 1:20 p.m. CST, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. WEA-compatible wireless phones that are turned on, within range of an active cell tower, and with wireless providers participating in WEA should be able to receive the test message.
– For English-language phones, the message will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
– Spanish-language phones will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
WEA alerts are generated and sent by authorized government agencies at federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels through IPAWS to participating wireless providers, who then deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in targeted areas. To ensure these alerts are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities, they are accompanied by a distinctive tone and vibration.
Key points about the EAS test:
– The EAS portion of the test is expected to last about one minute and will involve radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers.
– The test message will closely resemble the standard monthly EAS test messages that the public is familiar with. It will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 13:20 to 13:50 hours CST. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”
