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FEMA and FCC to Conduct National Test of
Wireless Emergency Alerts System on October 3
10/02/18 12:15pm
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    From the Federal Emergency Management Agency:

    IPAWS National Test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and
    Emergency Alert System (EAS)

    The National EAS and WEA test will be held on October 3, 2018, beginning at
    2:18 p.m. EDT.

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the
    Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of
    the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and Emergency Alert System (EAS) on
    October 3, 2018. The WEA portion of the test commences at 2:18 p.m. EDT,
    and the EAS portion follows at 2:20 p.m. EDT. The test will assess the
    operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message
    and determine whether improvements are needed.

    The WEA test message will be sent to cell phones that are connected to
    wireless providers participating in WEA. This is the fourth EAS nationwide test
    and the first national WEA test. Previous EAS national tests were conducted in
    November 2011, September 2016,  and September 2017 in collaboration with
    the FCC, broadcasters, and emergency management officials in recognition of
    FEMA’s National Preparedness Month.

    Cell towers will broadcast the WEA test for approximately 30 minutes beginning
    at 2:18 p.m. EDT. During this time, WEA compatible cell phones that are
    switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider
    participates in WEA should be capable of receiving the test message. Some
    cell phones will not receive the test message, and cell phones should only
    receive the message once. The WEA test message will have a header that
    reads "Presidential Alert" and text that says:

    “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No
    action is needed.”

    The WEA system is used to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing
    children, and other critical situations through alerts on cell phones. The
    national test will use the same special tone and vibration as with all WEA
    messages (i.e. Tornado Warning, AMBER Alert). Users cannot opt out of
    receiving the WEA test.

    The EAS is a national public warning system that provides the President with
    the communications capability to address the nation during a national
    emergency. The test is made available to EAS participants (i.e., radio and
    television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers,
    and wireline video providers) and is scheduled to last approximately one
    minute. The test message will be similar to regular monthly EAS test messages
    with which the public is familiar. The EAS message will include a reference
    to the WEA test:

    “THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system
    was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary
    cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the
    Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you
    informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual
    emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you
    heard at the start of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert
    test message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell
    phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required.”

    The test was originally planned for September 20, 2018 but was postponed
    until October 3, 2018 due to ongoing response efforts to Hurricane Florence.