Don’t be alarmed tomorrow when your phone unexpectedly goes off. The federal government will conduct a national emergency alert across all cellular devices tomorrow afternoon.
The test is scheduled to begin at about 11:20 p.m. Eastern time, with a 30-minute testing window.
You can expect to receive only one alert on your cellphone, television, and radio. Your phones will emit sound and vibrations reading “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” The message will also be displayed in Spanish for phones set to the language.
A similar message will be heard across your TV and radio.
Every three years, FEMA is required by law to conduct national tests of the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) with the last one occurring in 2021 with the goal of ensuring the emergency messaging system is running smoothly in the event you are threatened by a natural disaster, terrorism or other dangers are present to your public safety.
