Mark your calendars for October 4th because that’s when phones across the country will ring with an alarm, and you won’t need to set it yourself.
You don’t have to set a reminder; you can wait for the alarm to sound. However, do you really want to be that person in a movie theater, a church, or a school library, fumbling to silence their beeping phone?
Americans must plan ahead if they don’t want their phones to disturb them on October 4th. That’s the day the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will conduct a statewide test to assess the effectiveness of the government’s mass communication systems.
During this test, phones will ring with alarms, and TVs and radios will also sound the alarm, simulating what might happen during an emergency. It’s essential to remember that this is just a test.
When the alarm activates, your phone will display a message reassuring you: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
This test, conducted in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, comprises two parts. The first part focuses on Wireless Emergency Alerts, and the second assesses the Emergency Alert System.
At 2:20 pm ET, phones will emit a distinctive tone and vibration to ensure the message is accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. The message will appear in either English or Spanish based on your phone’s language settings.
FEMA specifies that wireless phones compatible with Wireless Emergency Alerts, powered on, within the range of an active cell tower, and with a participating wireless provider, should be capable of receiving the test message.
The test will last about one minute for televisions and radios and will impact radio and television broadcast stations, cable systems, satellite radio, and other television and video providers. The message on TV and radio 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. The public requires no action.”
As of now, the test is scheduled for October 4th. However, FEMA has a backup testing date on October 11th if severe weather or another event disrupts the initial plan.
