'THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. If an actual emergency had happened on Wednesday, the test would have been postponed with a backup scheduled for next week.įEMA is required by law to conduct national tests of the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) at least once every three years.
The testing window ran for 30 minutes, and you should have received only one message. ET on Wednesday, although many people received it a few minutes early. The test was scheduled to begin at about 2:20 p.m. Wednesday's cellphone alerts were sent via the same wireless system. You may be familiar with the jolting sounds accompanying National Weather Service alerts and AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) alerts.
The aim is to ensure the emergency messaging system is running smoothly in the event Americans are threatened by natural disasters, terrorism or other dangers to public safety.
National Security Who Should Warn The Public Of Nuclear War?įEMA and the Federal Communications Commission are running the test to prepare for actual emergencies.
