Presidential Alert: Phones Buzz Across U.S. Wednesday

The first ever test of a "presidential alert" went out to cellphones across the country Wednesday afternoon. The message that's being tested out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency was delivered to cellphones at 2:18 p.m. eastern time.

In a press release, FEMA officials said Wednesday's alert is the first national wireless emergency alert test.

Cellphones that are connected to wireless providers participating in WEA were to receive the test. The message had a header that read, "Presidential Alert" and a body that said, "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 cell phones," FEMA said. "The national test will use the same special tone and vibration as with all WEA messages (i.e. Tornado Warning, AMBER Alert)."

Users don't have the choice to opt out of these alerts. FEMA says when users receive the alert, they will hear a loud tone and a vibration.

FEMA also cautions that the alert is not a text message.

Following the WEA test, there will be a nationwide Emergency Alert System test. Nationwide EAS tests have been held before and the test is available to EAS participants like radio and television broadcasters. The EAS test will be held at 2:20 p.m. eastern and will last approximately one minute.

The tests were previously scheduled to be held on Sept. 20 but had to be postponed due to the Hurricane Florence response.

Photo via FEMA