Smartphone Users Can Expect A Test Message From FEMA Tomorrow

Tomorrows test will be of the Presidential Alert System.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), does these tests in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Unike the test of the emergency alert system that you hear us do on the radio once per week this nationwide test will go out to Smartphones testing the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and Emergency Alert System (EAS).  FEMA's site says the WEA portion of the test commences at 2:18 p.m. EDT, and the EAS portion follows at 2:20 p.m. EDT. They are hoping to see its effectiveness and ferret out things that need to be improved. You are not required to do anything after receiving this test.

The WEA test message will be sent to cell phones that are connected to wireless providers participating in WEA. This is the fourth EAS nationwide test and the first national WEA test. Previous EAS national tests were conducted in November 2011, September 2016,  and September 2017 in collaboration with the FCC, broadcasters, and emergency management officials in recognition of FEMA’s National Preparedness Month.

In regular life these alerts will come to you to make you aware of:

• Tsunami Warnings
• Tornado and Flash Flood Warnings
• Hurricane, Typhoon, Dust Storm and Extreme Wind Warnings

This new presidential alert will be nationwide and only used for advance warning of national crises.