A nationwide test of the emergency and wireless alert systems will be conducted Wednesday at 2:20 p.m. ET, when a message will be sent to all cellphones, TVs and radios.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a news release in August that a message that reads, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed,” will be sent to all phones. A Spanish version of the message will be displayed depending on the language settings of the devices.

A separate message will be sent to radios and televisions, saying, “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.”

The test is a joint operation between FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission, meant to “ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level,” according to the August news release.

  • @Sylver
    link
    English
    31 year ago

    Just in case you happen to already be within a quarter mile of a nuclear shelter.

    They aren’t advertised very well, but I have seen entrances to one in downtown Pittsburgh.

    • Flying Squid
      link
      11 year ago

      You think you would even survive in a shelter if you lived in a city the size of Pittsburgh? That would be a direct hit.

      • @Sylver
        link
        English
        41 year ago

        Oh yeah that thought never left my mind as well. Best case scenario you end up in a tomb with 9,000 others.