Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at approximately 11:20 a.m. PDT, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (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).
During this nationwide test, all major U.S. wireless providers will transmit an electronic warning tone and a message of an emergency alert to their subscribers over the course of 30 minutes. 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.”
During the 30-minute test window, cell phones that are switched on and within range of an active cell tower should be capable of receiving the test message. Classroom and building operations during the 30-minute test window could be impacted by student and staff cell phones alerting when they receive the message.
Tomorrow’s test alert will check the functionality of the EAS and WEA systems. These systems are designed to warn the public of an impending natural or human-made disaster. In an actual event, the messages are short and can provide immediate, life-saving information.
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WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies through FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) to participating wireless providers, which deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in geo-targeted areas. To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration.