INDIANAPOLIS — Be prepared for a loud alert to your phone on Wednesday at 2:20 p.m. ET.
FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts on Oct. 4.
The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
The tests will be sent to all radios, televisions, and cell phones. Even phones set to silent will receive the alert.
The alert will read “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
The test is expected to last approximately 30 minutes.
According to FEMA.gov, the purpose of the test is to ensure that the systems are effective means of warning the public of emergencies, especially at the national level.
If the test is postponed for any reason, the backup testing date will be Oct. 11.
