Emergency Alert System test upcoming on Oct. 3

Published 12:03 am Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Whitfield County Emergency Management Director Claude Craig is informing local residents about a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) scheduled for Wednesday, Oct 3.

“This is just a test,” Craig said. “It’s a good thing. We just want to make the public aware of the test this week so they won’t be alarmed. There is no need to call 911 because of the test.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is conducting the nationwide test, with the WEA portion commencing at 2:18 p.m., and the EAS portion at 2:20 p.m.

The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether improvements are needed.

The WEA test message will be sent to cellphones that are connected to wireless providers participating in WEA. This is the fourth EAS nationwide test and the first national WEA test. Previous EAS national tests were conducted in November 2011, September 2016 and September 2017 in collaboration with the FCC, broadcasters, and emergency management officials in recognition of FEMA’s National Preparedness Month.

The EAS is a national public warning system that provides the president with the communications capability to address the nation during a national emergency. The test is made available to EAS participants (such as radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers) and is scheduled to last approximately one minute. The test message will be similar to regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. The EAS message will include a reference to the WEA test:

“THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert test message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required.”

Cell towers will broadcast the WEA test for approximately 30 minutes beginning at 2:18 p.m. During this time, WEA compatible cellphones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower and whose wireless provider participates in WEA should be capable of receiving the test message. Some cellphones will not receive the test message, and cellphones should only receive the message once. The WEA test message will have a header that reads “Presidential Alert” and text that says:

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

The WEA system is used to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children and other critical situations through alerts on cellphones. The national test will use the same special tone and vibration as with all WEA messages (such as a tornado warning, AMBER Alert). Users cannot opt out of the WEA test.