Release Date:
August 3, 2023
Test Messages Will be Sent to All TVs, Radios and Cell Phones
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.
thanks.
I’m still pee ode about our local radio guys doing those monthly EBS tests During Rushes show, for years. Guaranteed they would do them right when Rush was talking. The radio bleepers finally took so much flak about it that they moved the beeping noise to station break time. I guess it finally occurred to them that the fire at their shop could be the actual emergency if they kept it up? And I have distinct memories of how they would pick the time——right when Rush would be making a point. I still swear they had a guy with button fingers just waiting for the stoopid moment. Now they do them after Rushes time slot would be over. Remember “Rush Rooms”? Why not P-O a room full of folks at a time?