FEMA to conduct nationwide test of emergency alert systems on Aug. 11

posted on: 8/10/2021

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct national tests of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, at 2:20 p.m.

These tests will assess the readiness to distribute an emergency message nationwide. The test messages will clearly state the alert is only a test. In the event that widespread severe weather or another significant event occurs on Aug. 11, 2021, both tests will be postponed until Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021 at 2:20 p.m. EDT.

The EAS national test is very similar to regular monthly tests typically originated by state authorities. During the test, radios and televisions across the country may interrupt normal programming to play the EAS test message. The message may be delivered in English or Spanish.

The WEA test will be directed only to consumer cell phones where the subscriber has opted-in to receive test messages, which will be in either English or Spanish, depending on the device’s language settings. Most mobile phones will not display the test message. In contrast, consumers will automatically receive real emergency alerts on compatible phones (even if they do not receive the test message). Instructions for how to opt-in to receive the test message on mobile devices can be found here.

More information about the EAS and WEA tests can be found at https://www.fema.gov/event/ipaws-national-test.