Emergency alert test is underway as millions of millions of devices goes off across the United States

The nationwide emergency alert test in the United States will be conducted on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at approximately 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). The test will involve both the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system.

The EAS test will be broadcast on radio and television stations across the country. The test message will state:

This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System. This is only a test. No action is required.

The WEA test will be sent to cell phones that are connected to a participating wireless carrier. The test message will state:

THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.

The test is intended to evaluate the effectiveness of the EAS and WEA systems in reaching and informing the public in the event of an actual emergency.

What to expect

If you are in the United States on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, you may receive an emergency alert test message on your cell phone and/or hear the test message on the radio or television.

The test message will be clearly identified as a test. No action is required on your part.

If you do not receive a test message

If you do not receive a test message on your cell phone or hear the test message on the radio or television, it does not necessarily mean that there is a problem with the EAS or WEA systems. There are a number of reasons why you may not receive a test message, such as if your cell phone is turned off or in airplane mode, or if you are not in an area with wireless service.

If you are concerned that you may not have received the test message, you can contact your wireless carrier or local emergency management office.

More information

For more information about the nationwide emergency alert test, please visit the FEMA website or the FCC website.