On Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 3, FEMA along with the FCC will be conducting a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS), and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The first test will be the WEA test at around 2:18pm. Following that will be an EAS test that goes out on radio and television stations. That will trigger around 2:20pm.

While the FCC and National Weather Service will be participating in the test, FEMA is actually handing the whole process. The reason for the test is to ensure that both systems are an effective way to warn the public about emergencies.  Most of these emergencies would be on a national level. Although state and local officials are able to use the EAS system.  You might be familiar with the alerts the National Weather Services sends when bad weather moves into the area.

There have been several national tests of the EAS system, but this will be the first for WEA system. Those alerts go directly to your cell phone. The message will read as follows: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” Phones should display the test using the header “Presidential Alert.”

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