FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on October 4th.
The national test will be made up of two sections, one testing WEA capabilities, and the other testing EAS capabilities. Both tests are set to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m.
FEMA Senior Official Antwane Johnson responded to a concern about individuals being worried that they could not use their phone during this time.
“That does not mean that cell phones will broadcast the messages continuously for 30 minutes, it just means that the message will be active in the system for 30 minutes.”
The WEA portion of the test will be directed to consumer cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test to all WEA-compatible cellular devices. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.
According to Johnson, the cell phone will be accompanied by a unique tone and vibration, along with a message saying this is a test of the National Wireless Emergency Alert system.
“No action is needed. Cell phones should receive the message only once. The message will display on cell phones regardless of whether consumers have opted out of receiving WEA test messages.”
If a phone is off before the test alert is sent and not turned back on until after the WEA Test expires (approximately 30 minutes), the phone should not get the test message.
The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.
FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and maximize the public safety value of the test.
The purpose of the test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective when it comes to warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.
The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks. The WEA test will be administered via a code sent to cell phones.
This year the EAS message will be disseminated as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS-OPEN).
WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies through IPAWS to participating wireless providers, which deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in geo-targeted areas. To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration.
In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed, due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11.