Wednesday at 12:20 p.m. Mountain time, the general public will receive two nationwide emergency alert tests – Emergency Alert System and the Wireless Emergency Alerts through FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission.
The purpose of the tests is to make sure that each system effectively notifies the public about emergencies, specifically on the national level.
Both tests will happen concurrently. The wireless portion will be conducted to consumer cellphones and the Emergency Alert System portion will be directed to radios and televisions.
According to a news release, FEMA and the FCC will coordinate with emergency managers, wireless providers, EAS participants and other stakeholders to minimize confusion and increase the public safety value of the test.
FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System will initiate the WEA portion of the test. Through this, authorities send certified emergency messages to the public through many communications networks.
The EAS message will be circulated as a Common Alerting Protocol message through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks.
The message will be sent only once to all cellphones that are in service.
Consumers should expect the following message, depending on each person’s spoken language:
“THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed” or “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
Local, federal, territorial, state and tribal territorial government agencies create and send WEA alerts through IPAWS to partaking wireless providers. Unique tone and vibration alerts help make sure they are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.
The EAS test is arranged to last for approximately one minute and will be conducted with satellite radio, radio and television broadcasters, wireline video providers, cable systems and television providers.
The test will be comparable to the monthly EAS test messages and should be expected to state: “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.”
