FEMA to send test emergency alert message to cellphones Wednesday

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, along with the Federal Communications Commission, is planning to conduct a nationwide test on Wednesday.

The agencies are testing Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEA, and the Emergency Alert System, or EAS.

The tests are scheduled to start at approximately 1:18 p.m.

According to the Boone County Office of Emergency Management, test messages will be sent to cellphones serviced by participating wireless providers.

Officials said this is the first nationwide WEA test and the fourth nationwide EAS test.

Officials said in a press release that the tests are designed to “assess the readiness of infrastructure for distribution of a national message.”

The EAS is a national public warning system that provides the president with the communications capability to address the nation during a national emergency.

The WEA system is used to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children and
other critical situations through alerts on cellphones.

The test was initially planned for September 20, but was delayed due to response efforts to Hurricane Florence.

You can find more information here.