At 1:20 PM CDT, the federal government will be conducting an emergency alert test.
WASHINGTON — FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this fall.
The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test to all cellular devices. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.
The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.
FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and to maximize the public safety value of the test.
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. 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.
The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks. The WEA test will be administered 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).
All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:
Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, 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 be capable of receiving the test message.
For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
Consider this a public service announcement so that you don’t freak out when this happens today.
Update: Bit of a snoozer, here. Just a text message that disappeared off my phone before I could read it, no alert noise because I keep my ringer off. And I rarely have the TV or radio on, so I didn’t get those alerts either.
Tags: FCC, FEMA, Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), Media Watch, PSA, WEA
Don’t forget to turn off your phones 10 minutes before it happens:)
[…] I HAVE A REMINDER SET TO PUT MY PHONE IN AIRPLANE MODE FIVE MINUTES PRIOR: Be Ready For Today’s Emergency Broadcast Test. […]
Good to know the feds can tap into every cell phone. It’s why I’ll never own one.
The Feds have annoying tests, but seems to have issues solving actual crimes. They just make up ones about their enemies.
many folks are warning that even if your phone is turned off the test signal will still come through. We’ll see I guess.
I just find it funny. We had one of these four years ago but because the different president then the opposite group of people were complaining.
This is the system the feds will use to reach into every precinct and each precincts computers and voting machines. What could go wrong?
Government inevitably abuses every authority and system we give it. Locally folks approved ‘smart’ water meters on the condition they not be used to fine folks who water out of schedule.
Gee, guess what the county did this summer?
Folks will be approving ‘smart’ power grids, ‘smart’ roads, central bank digital currency, even ‘smart’ guns as the only kind a citizen can own …
Not very smart in my book.
How?
I have to confess great disappointment with the KYAG test. Alas, no zombie apocalypse.
An interesting note came from the engineering mosh pit at my office. Some cell phones started 2 minutes before the published time as verified by clocks synchronized to WWVB time signals. Some were on time. Others triggered at 2 minutes after. Apparently due to different cell phone carriers.
Feds checking out the system in preparation for the Big Pandemic Panic next year.
“Feds checking out the system in preparation for the Big Pandemic Panic next year.”
Latest form of nuclear brinksmanship. Cheaper than missile launches?
Russia tested its emergency public warning systems across the country yesterday at 10:42 GMT (15:42 EDT). Russia’s test was performed according to their federal law which requires such tests twice a year.