Nationwide Emergency Alert Test on Oct. 4

Phoenix - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, starting at 11:20 a.m. MST. The WEA test message will be sent to all consumer cell phones in either English or Spanish, depending on the phone's language settings. The EAS part of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. “Testing emergency communications systems ensures that when a crisis strikes, our words and warnings reach those who need them the most, bridging the gap between disaster and safety,” Maj. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck, the Adjutant General of the Arizona National Guard and Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs Director. “We want to ensure Arizonans are aware of the scheduled test on their phones, radios, and televisions.” Wireless phones will receive the message once. Here's what to expect from the WEA test: • Starting at around 11:20 a.m. MST, cell towers will broadcast the test for about 30 minutes. • The message on phones will read: "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed." • Phones set to Spanish will display: "ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción." WEA alerts are sent by authorized government agencies through FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System to wireless providers, who deliver them to compatible handsets in specific areas. These alerts include unique tones and vibrations to ensure accessibility, including for people with disabilities. Arizonans are encouraged to learn about emergency preparedness on the Arizona Emergency Information Network website, http://ein.az.gov, or via social media channels.