Nationwide Alert Coming to Cell Phones, TVs, and Radios
In a month’s time, Americans across the country will simultaneously hear an alarm sound on their cell phones, TVs, and radios. However, citizens need not panic, as it is simply a test being conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Scheduled for Wednesday, October 4, at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, the test aims to ensure the effectiveness of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) in the event of a national emergency.
This will be the second nationwide test for cell phones, while it will be the seventh for TVs and radios. Upon the designated time, cell phones are expected to receive the WEA drill within 30 minutes, displaying the message: “This is a test of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” On the other hand, televisions and radios will broadcast a similar message for about a minute during the EAS test.
It is notable that while the nationwide alert system needs periodic testing, only few situations would necessitate an alert to be sent to the entire country. Typically, emergency events have localized impacts, resulting in alerts being issued by local and state authorities. The U.S. has been sending emergency alerts to cell phones for over a decade, and occasional tests are crucial to ensure the system’s functionality. In fact, a similar test for cell phone users was conducted in the U.K. just last April.
However, it is important to bear in mind that in the unlikely event of an extreme weather condition or any other emergency situation occurring around the same time as the test on October 4, the test will be postponed and rescheduled for Wednesday, October 11.
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