Full Notification

WASHINGTON – FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless
Emergency Alerts (WEA) this fall.
The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are
scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. This will be the third
nationwide test, but the second test to all cellular devices. The test message will display in either
English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.
The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This will be the seventh
nationwide EAS test.
FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency
managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and
to maximize the public safety value of the test.
The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of
warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. 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.
The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning
System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables
authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple
communications networks. The WEA test will be administered via a code sent to cell phones.
This year the EAS message will be disseminated as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message
via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks
(IPAWS-OPEN).
All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The following can be expected from
the nationwide WEA test:
 Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for
approximately 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.”
WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial
government agencies through IPAWS to participating wireless providers, which deliver the alerts
to compatible handsets in geo-targeted areas. 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.
Important information about the EAS test:
 The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last approximately 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 with which the
public is familiar. 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.