The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) along with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a test of emergency alert systems Tomorrow (Today) starting at 12:18 pm.
FEMA and the FCC will be testing their Wirelesses Emergency Alerts as well as their Emergency Alert System starting at 12:18 pm mountain standard time.
The Wireless Emergency Alert will send a message to cell phones who have wireless providers participating in the alert. The national test will use the same special tone and vibration as with other localized messages such as AMBER Alerts or Tornado Warnings. The message will read:
“Presidential Alert: THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
The national system would be used to warn about federal disasters such as a nuclear or coordinated terrorist attack as well as natural disasters.
Following the Wireless Emergency Alert will be the Emergency Alert System Test. This test message is distributed through broadcast channels such as radio and T.V. and will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test.
The EAS message will read:
“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.”
