This coming Thursday, September 20, FEMA in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission will conduct a national test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert with radio, TV, cable stations and wireless carriers.
This test is to be sure that in times of an emergency or disaster, public safety officials have methods and systems that will deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public.
This Wireless Emergency Alert test commences at 11:18am Pacific Time; the Emergency Alert System portion follows at 11:20am Pacific Time.
The Emergency Alert System test is expected to last approximately one minute and will verify the delivery and broadcast of a national test message and assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.
The Wireless Emergency Alert test message will be sent to all wireless providers that currently participate in the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System. Cell towers will broadcast the Wireless Emergency Alert test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, cell phones that are 1.) switched on, 2.) within range of an active cell tower, and 3.) whose wireless carrier participates in Wireless Emergency Alerts, should be capable of receiving the test message. Cell phones should receive the Wireless Emergency Alert message once.
The Emergency Alert System test message will be made available and shared through radio, TV, cable, and direct broadcast satellite systems in all U.S. states and territories. Their participation in the test is mandatory per FCC rules. The Wireless Emergency Alert test message will be sent to all wireless providers that currently participate in the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.
Periodic testing of public alert and warning systems is a way to assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.
The Wireless Emergency Alert system became operational in April 2012, and there has never been a nationwide Wireless Emergency Alert message sent. A nationwide Wireless Emergency Alert message would only be used in the most extreme emergency situation.
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