Nationwide Wireless Emergency Alert Test Set for Oct. 4

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a national test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) on Oct. 4, 2023*. This is inclusive of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), and a test alert will be sent to all wireless phones.

 

WCAZ wants to ensure that everyone is aware and knows that there is no imminent danger and no action needed.

 

Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Oct. 4, towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes.

 

The test message will state: "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed."

There are four categories of alerts sent through WEA:

• National Alerts are a special class of alerts only sent during a national emergency.
• Imminent Threat Alerts include natural or human-made disasters, extreme weather, active shooters, and other threatening emergencies that are current or emerging.
• Public Safety Alerts contain information about a threat that may not be imminent or after an imminent threat has occurred. 
• AMBER Alerts are urgent bulletins issued in child-abduction cases. An AMBER Alert instantly enables the entire community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of the child.

 

This will be the third national test