The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System October 4 at 2:20 p.m.

Two alerts were sent out October 4 one involving Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA).

Then a second alert was sent by the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

Both were sent at 2:20 p.m. the WEA test and was received by all consumer cellular devices.

The message appeared in English or Spanish depending on the setting on the device.

The EAS test was also sent out by radio and television.

These alerts were loud those who sleep in the afternoon, are in a meeting or in court were warned to turn their phone off to keep from being disturbed.

Domestic abuse survivors with a hidden safety phone were warned to turn that phone off so it would not be discovered.

The test was in cooperation with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

It was simply a way to ensure the systems worked properly.

These test ensure that the systems are effective in warning the public in cases of an event of concern.

The message received by your phone read “This is a test of the nationwide Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

It was the second nationwide test of the WEA system to be received by cellular phones.

It was the seventh nationwide EAS test to be performed.

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