Nationwide Alert Is Coming To Your Phone In South Brunswick Wednesday. What To Know

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – If you hear an alert go off on your phone on Wednesday, do not be alarmed. It is just a nationwide test, the South Brunswick Office of Emergency Management said.

On Wednesday afternoon, the federal government will conduct a nationwide test of its Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).

Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m.

The national test will consist of two portions with alerts being sent to cell phones, radios, and televisions by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test for all cellular devices. The test message will be displayed in either English or Spanish, depending on the language settings of the handset.

The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers, and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and maximize the public safety value of the test, FEMA said.

The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.

CELL PHONE MESSAGE

• Beginning around 2:20 p.m. cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should receive the test message. For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

RADIO AND TELEVISION MESSAGE

• The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last around one minute and will be conducted with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers. The test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. It will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”