FEMA to send emergency alert test to all U.S. cellphones tomorrow

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —

Tomorrow October 4th at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cellular devices, televisions, and radio systems will alert from a national emergency alert test that is designed to ensure the country’s mass communication services are in working order.

The test is scheduled to last approximately one minute.

Officials say the alert is similar to that of an Amber alert or warnings issued by the National Weather Service.

But for those in unsafe domestic circumstances, and other at-risk secondary device users, advocates are concerned the alert could pose a larger problem, as an unexpected noise may alert abusers to the location of commonly-used hidden devices in the home.

Fortunately, device users looking to silence a hidden resource have time to prepare by turning their cell phones or devices off completely.

Many Americans will already be familiar with the blaring alarm noise and accompanying notification blasts pushed to their phones, known as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), used by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in four types of critical emergency situations:

1) “National Alerts” issued by the President of the United States or the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA);

2) “Imminent Threat” alerts involving imminent threats to safety or life;

3) “Amber Alerts” about missing children; and

4) “Public Safety Messages” conveying recommendations for saving lives and property.

This isn’t the first national test of WEA, but it’s only the second time the alert will be sent to all U.S. cellphones. For most, it will be a brief disruption in their day.

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