City of Raleigh residents will be part of a nationwide FEMA and FCC emergency test plan on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. You do not need to take any action, just be aware of the upcoming test.
FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The test is scheduled to begin at about 2:20 p.m. on Oct. 4.
Emergency Alert System – Radio, TV
The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions.
- The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last about one minute and will be conducted with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers and wireline video providers.
- The test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages. It 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. No action is required by the public.”
Wireless Emergency Alerts – Cell Phones
The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.
All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:
- Beginning at about 2:20 p.m., cell towers will broadcast the test for about 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message.
- For consumers, the message that appears on their phones 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.”
Effective Means of Warning the Public
To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration.
The purpose of the emergency test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level, according to FEMA. In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11.
