Habersham Emergency Management Agency is reminding residents of the National Alert Test scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 4.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission will conduct the test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts and the Emergency Alert System.
Habersham County officials said in a release both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m.
The WEA part of the test will go directly to all consumer cell phones. While this will be the third nationwide test, it will be the second test sent to all cellular devices.
The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions and will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.
Recipients of the test will not need to take action.
“The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the backup testing date is Oct. 11,” officials said in the release.
All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:
- Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message.
- For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
- Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
Alerts will be accompanied by a unique tone and vibration to ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities.
Important information about the EAS test:
- The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and will be conducted with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers.
- The test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. It will state: “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.”
