Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test to Take Place on Wednesday Through Mobile Devices and Cable Television

“THIS IS ONLY A TEST”: Should you possess a mobile phone or be tuned in to your television this Wednesday, you will encounter this advisory message. This is part of a federal initiative to evaluate the effectiveness of its Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.

The system disseminates critical alerts through two key methods: the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts. The former is a national warning mechanism intended to enable the President of the United States to address the citizenry within 10 minutes during a national crisis, primarily through traditional broadcast mediums like radio and television. The latter, Wireless Emergency Alerts, are concise notifications, restricted to 360 characters, transmitted directly to mobile devices to disseminate crucial information.

Though such alerts are commonly deployed for localized warnings such as natural disasters like tornadoes, the upcoming test is unique in that it will be nationwide.

Scheduled to commence at 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time, mobile phone users in the United States whose devices are powered on will receive a test alert reading: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” The alert will be accompanied by an audible signal and a vibration on the device.

For customers who have set their devices to operate in Spanish, the notification will be delivered in that language.

The testing period will unfold over a span of 30 minutes, beginning at 2:20 p.m. Recipients will receive the alert message only once. Should their devices be switched off at the initial time and powered back within that half-hour window, the alert will be received upon reactivation. Devices turned on post the 30-minute window will not receive the alert.

Simultaneously, those who are viewing broadcast or cable television, or listening to the radio will be exposed to a 60-second message that articulates: “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.”

By federal statute, it is mandatory for these systems to undergo testing at a minimum interval of every three years. The most recent such nationwide test was conducted on August 11, 2021.

In light of the impending test, there have been unfounded speculations on social media suggesting the test is a guise for activating nanoparticles like graphene oxide in human bodies. Authorities and experts, including those from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, have categorically debunked these claims. However, some individuals on social media platforms have indicated they will deactivate their mobile phones for the duration of the test.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Emergency Alert System Test

More about Emergency Alert System Test

• Federal Emergency Management Agency: Emergency Alert System
• U.S. Government: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Overview
• Federal Communications Commission: Emergency Alert System & Wireless Emergency Alerts
• National Association of Broadcasters: Emergency Alert System Guidelines
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Public Warning and Notification Systems
• Snopes: Debunking False Claims About the Nationwide Emergency Alert Test