You might hear or see an alert coming from your cell phone, TV and/or radio Wednesday afternoon, but, as the Emergency Broadcast System once assured us every so often, it’s only a test.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct the nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) for radio and TV and the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system for cellphones, according to a FEMA press release.
The Nationwide Emergency Alert Test will be in two parts, and it’s scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4.
Its purpose is to ensure the alert systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. If the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the backup test alert date is Wednesday, Oct. 11.
Keith Kucera, Gilmer County Emergency Management Agency director, said he’s trying to get the word out as much as possible so local residents know that an actual national emergency is not occurring when the alert goes off on multiple devices.
“We want to make people aware so it’s not catching everybody by surprise and they all call 911. I’ve been trying to put it out to as many social media outlets as I can (including) the schools, fire department and police departments,” Kucera said.
The EAS portion of the test, which should last approximately one minute, will be conducted through radio and television broadcasters, cable TV systems and satellite radio and television providers. According to FEMA, the test message will say, “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.”
Cell towers will broadcast the test alert to wireless customers, also beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. All WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower and whose wireless provider participates in the WEA program should receive the test message, noted FEMA.
The Emergency Alert System has been in operation since 1997. It replaced the Emergency Broadcast System as the U.S government’s official national emergency warning system. The Wireless Emergency Alerts system originated in 2012. It’s a partnership between FEMA, the FCC and wireless service providers.
Since this type of national alert system testing isn’t something that’s done annually, many people probably haven’t gotten this type of alert in a long time or even at all, Kucera noted. According to FEMA, this will be only the seventh time a national alert test like this has been conducted.