Nationwide Testing Of Emergency Alert Systems On TV, Radio, and Cellphones Will Occur October 4th

An emergency alert test will sound Oct. 4 on all U.S. cellphones, TVs and radios. Here’s what to expect. – CBS News, 2023/10/02

Your electronic devices may alarm you on Wednesday afternoon — but there’s a reason for that.

A nationwide test of the federal emergency alert system will be broadcast at approximately 2:20 p.m. EDT to cellphones, televisions and radios across the United States at around the same time. Most Americans with wireless cellular devices will receive an emergency alert message, as will most whose televisions or radios are on when the test occurs.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct Wednesday’s test in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission. Emergency alert messages that make up the test are divided into two groups — the Emergency Alert System (EAS) for radios and televisions, and the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) for wireless phones — although both are scheduled to happen at once.

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As the wireless alert tests are sent out to phones, the Emergency Alert System tests will be sent out to televisions and radios.

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Since 2015, FEMA has been required under federal law to test the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System at least once every three years, and those tests can involve the Emergency Alert System, wireless alert system, and other alerts and warnings.

This was announced earlier this year.