National Emergency Alert Test: October 4, 2023

In our unwavering commitment to public safety, the U.S. Government is conducting a National Emergency Alert Test on October 4, 2023, designed to assess the effectiveness of our emergency alert systems. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have collaborated to ensure the readiness of both the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) for all Americans.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) Test:

During this nationwide test, all wireless phones will receive the message only once. Here's what you can expect:

Starting at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers across the nation will broadcast the test for about 30 minutes. If you have a WEA-compatible wireless phone that is switched on, within the range of an active cell tower, and your wireless provider participates in WEA, your phone should be capable of receiving the test message.

For most consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed."

If your phone's main menu is set to Spanish, the message will display in Spanish as: "ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción."

To ensure that these alerts are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities, the alerts will be accompanied by a unique tone and vibration.

Emergency Alert System (EAS) Test:

The EAS portion of the test is slated to last approximately one minute and will involve the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers.

The message will closely resemb, le the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. It will 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."

As we approach this important nationwide test on October 4, 2023, we encourage everyone to stay informed and participate. Your engagement helps us ensure that our emergency alert systems are robust and prepared to keep our communities safe in times of crisis. Together, we stand resilient and ready to face any challenges that may arise.

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, 2023.