FEMA, FCC to conduct emergency test across US today. Know details here

US federal agency Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be conducting a nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) test on Wednesday. Radios, televisions and certain cellphones will be alerted at approximately 2:20 PM ET.

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The test is conducted by the two federal bodies to ensure the EAS and WEA systems work efficiently. The two systems are used to warn the public in case of an emergency. 

“The purpose of the Aug. 11 test is to ensure that the EAS and WEA systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level,” a FEMA press release said.

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“Periodic testing of public alert and warning systems helps to assess the operational readiness of alerting infrastructure and to identify any needed technological and administrative improvements,” it added. 

The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last about one minute, and the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) to cellphones, whose users have opted into receiving messages, should only be received once.

The message, according to FEMA, should read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” The message will be read in English or Spanish, depending on the language settings of the device, the FEMA press release added. 

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This is the sixth nationwide EAS test, the second WEA test and the first WEA test on a consumer opt-in basis. The government periodically tests its emergency alert system to make sure it is working properly and to identify any necessary improvements. If Wednesday’s test is canceled, a backup testing date is scheduled for Aug. 25.

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“Emergency alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies,” according to FEMA.

The two bodies are coordinating with wireless providers, emergency managers and other stakeholders to minimize confusion” and “maximize the public safety value of the test, as per FEMA.