‘Presidential’ Emergency Alert Sent Out to Millions of Americans’ Phones

Millions of people received an emergency test alert on Oct. 4.

A “presidential alert” was sent out at about 2:18 p.m. ET on Oct. 4 to test a national emergency system, causing cellular phones, televisions, and radios to emit the familiar alarm sound.

“THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System,” it said. “The purpose is to maintain and improve alert and warning capabilities at the federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels and to evaluate the nation’s public alert and warning capabilities.”

It added that “no action is required by the public.”

Notably, the emergency test alert bulletin interrupted White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s news conference on Oct. 4.

Broadcast TV shows and radio programs were interrupted as the emergency message was sent. That message stated: “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.”

Months in advance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sent out a notice saying that the alert system would be tested on Oct. 4. Those who opted out of wireless emergency alerts (WEA) on their cellphones didn’t receive the message.

WEAs are described as emergency messages “that are sent directly to your phone by authorized government alerting authorities through your mobile carrier.” Alerting authorities include FEMA, the FCC, state agencies, and the U.S. National Weather Service.

“All wireless phones should receive the message only once,” the FEMA bulletin in August stated. “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.”

By Jack Phillips

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