National emergency test to be sent to phones at 2:18 p.m.
When your phone rings today at 2:18 p.m. with a presidential alert, don't panic, it's just a test.
According to a news release, the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, are conducting a nationwide test of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) at 2:18 p.m. Wednesday.
The alert will be sent to all phones whose service providers participate in the system and only appear once. The alert will be accompanied by a unique tone and vibration even if a phone is set to silent or vibration only.
At the time of the alert, residents will receive an alert with the header “Presidential Alert” that says, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
These nationwide alerts were created for use in a national emergency or disaster and are the only alerts FEMA can send nationwide simultaneously.
The Emergency Alert System (EAS), which broadcasts over television and radio, also will run a test starting at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday.
