On Wednesday afternoon, your cellphone, TV and radio will all sound alarms.
While it may give a jolt of surprise, there is no reason to worry. It is just a test.
Two tests, actually.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission will conduct a nationwide test at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday of the Emergency Alert System and the Wireless Emergency Alerts.
The nationwide tests are to make sure the agencies can effectively warn the public about emergencies.
The test has two parts — one for all cellphones and the other for radios and televisions.
FEMA said it and the FCC are coordinating with Emergency Alert System 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 test is needed, FEMA said, “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.”
For the cellphone test, all cellphones that are turned on, within range of an active cell tower and whose provider participates in in Wireless Emergency Alerts, will receive a message that says — “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
The message also will appear in Spanish on cellphones set to that language.
FEMA said the alerts also will have a unique tone and vibration to ensure the messages are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.
For the 1-minute TV and radio test, the message will be — “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”
FEMA said this will be the second time it has tested for all cellular devices and the seventh nationwide test for radio and TV.
