Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3

At 2:20 pm ET today, the US will begin broadcasting a test of the country’s national emergency system to all cell phones, radios, and TVs.

🚨 What to expect: If you’re by a cell phone that’s turned on and not in airplane mode, you’ll hear a harsh, screeching-ish sound accompanying the alert (similar to National Weather Service and Amber alerts). The sound will be paired with a message: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed."

If you’re watching TV or listening to the radio, the alert will be similar to episodes of the show Black Mirror – the same general format, just a slightly different story. Its accompanying message will contain different words than above, but the same messaging (this is a test, no further action needed).

🤔 How the system works: Wireless alerts are created by authorized government agencies, then sent to participating wireless providers through FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, a platform allowing officials to send authenticated emergency messages quickly to the public via multiple channels (i.e., TV, phone, radio).

• FEMA is required by law to conduct national tests of this alert system at least once every three years. The last one took place in 2021.

But the system’s day-to-day usage looks a little different. The wireless alert system also provides officials with the ability to specifically target messages to local areas affected by emergencies (ex: flash floods). It’s been used 84,000+ times since its 2012 launch, per Axios.