The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will send a test message beginning at 2:18 p.m. Oct. 3 to all cellphone users within range of an active cell tower. This message, originally schedule to be sent on Sept. 20, has been delayed due to ongoing response efforts to Hurricane Florence.
The message, which will make a loud tone, may be titled as a "Presidential Alert" and will read “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” This will be the first national test of the Wireless Emergency Alert System (WEA).
Penn State faculty, staff and students who receive PSUAlerts by text messages are already receiving messages via the same system on which the test message will be sent. These cellphone users, who currently receive tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm alerts, will likely receive the WEA test.
The Emergency Alert System was previously tested in 2011, 2016 and 2017 in collaboration with the FCC and radio and television broadcasters.
Additional information about the tests can be found at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-alert-test.
Additional tips for National Preparedness Month can be found at https://www.ready.gov/.
A FEMA App is available to receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service, find emergency safety tips, locate emergency shelters in your area and find disaster recovery centers.