There will be a nationwide emergency alert test sent to all cell phones around 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday, October 4 by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
No action is required by you; your phone will vibrate, sound a unique (loud) noise, and display a message that reads “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
Federal law requires this test at least once every three years. The last similar test was in 2021.
This test is administered by FEMA at a national level. Public safety professionals in Palo Alto have no control over this test, so please do not call 9-1-1 to inquire about this test.
For a list of frequently asked questions about this test, click here for information from FEMA: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system/national-test-2023
