[W2CRA] FW: National Emergency Test

[n2vjk at yahoo.com]

ALL - FYI - you may or may not be aware of the following: PLEASE REMEMBER
THAT IT IS ONLT A TEST:

 


FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for Oct. 4, 2023


 
<https://www.fema.gov/profiles/femad8_gov/themes/fema_uswds/images/world-ico
n-black.png> 

*
<https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230803/fema-and-fcc-plan-nationwide-em
ergency-alert-test-oct-4-2023> English 

*
<https://www.fema.gov/es/press-release/20230803/fema-and-fcc-plan-nationwide
-emergency-alert-test-oct-4-2023> Español


Release Date

Release Number


August 3, 2023

HQ-23-124

Release Date:

August 3, 2023

Test Messages Will be Sent to All TVs, Radios and Cell Phones

WASHINGTON -- FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), will conduct a
<https://www.fema.gov/emergency-alert-test> nationwide test of the
<https://www.fema.gov/emergency-alert-system> Emergency Alert System (EAS)
and
<https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-ale
rt-warning-system/public/wireless-emergency-alerts> Wireless Emergency
Alerts (WEA) this fall.

The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS
capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m.
ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones.
This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test to all cellular
devices. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish,
depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.

The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This
will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.

FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers,
emergency managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national
test to minimize confusion and to maximize the public safety value of the
test.

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 back-up testing
date is Oct. 11. 

The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using
<https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-ale
rt-warning-system> FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System
(IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that
enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public
through multiple communications networks. The WEA test will be administered
via a code sent to cell phones. 

This year the EAS message will be disseminated as a Common Alerting Protocol
(CAP) message via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open
Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS-OPEN).

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.”

WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal
and territorial government agencies through IPAWS to participating wireless
providers, which deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in geo-targeted
areas. To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public,
including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique
tone and vibration. 

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.

 

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