New Federal Emergency Alert System to Test

A nationwide test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and Emergency Alert System (EAS) is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 3. The WEA portion of the test will begin at 1:18 p.m. CST, followed by the EAS portion at 1:20 p.m. CST.

All broadcast, cable, satellite, and wireless communications (including cell phones) will receive the alert in a similar fashion to AMBER alerts.

The message will read:

• Weather Emergency Alert Version: "Presidential Alert: THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed."

• Emergency Alert System Version: "THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert test message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required."

Learn more about the IPAWS National Test.