Expect your cell phone to vibrate and sound an alarm this afternoon. The federal emergency alert system, including wireless emergency alerts, will be tested today at approximately 2:20 pm. EDT.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct nationwide tests of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts today. A test alert message will be sent to cell phones, televisions and radios across the U.S. today beginning at 2:20 p.m.
Wireless providers that participate in the Wireless Emergency Alerts system are required to to deliver this test message, which will accompanied by a unique tone and vibration, according to FEMA. Cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes.
A text message 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.”
FEMA recorded this video announcement about the test:
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