ST. GEORGE — Just after noon Wednesday, just about everyone’s cell phone will go off with an emergency alert.
Don’t be alarmed. As the saying goes, it’s only a test.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it will conduct a nationwide test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, which broadcasts emergency and life-saving information through wireless, devices broadcast services and weather radios.
FEMA says the alert will go out on all wireless devices starting at 12:20 p.m. MDT Wednesday. It will be broadcast for 30 minutes but should only go off once on each device.
The alert will also be broadcast on televisions and radios tuned in to a broadcast station, satellite service, cable or wireless TV.
The current public alert system, established 10 years ago, replaced the old Emergency Broadcast System by putting broadcast alerts, wireless alerts and weather alerts under the same umbrella. A bill signed into law in 2016 requires the system to be tested every three years. The last nationwide test was on Oct. 3, 2018.
FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell said in a statement that the test is necessary to ensure the system will work during an actual disaster or emergency.
“We recognize in disasters, seconds save lives. Getting alerts out promptly saves lives,” she said. “The next alert you receive could save your life or the life of one you love.”
Every major cell phone carrier is participating in the test, as well as other carriers that use those carriers’ cell towers.
According to FEMA, at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for 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 receive the test message.
The alert will say, “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.” The alert will also go out in Spanish if a user chooses that as their language.
According to FEMA, switching to silent mode will not keep the alert from sounding. The only way to avoid the noise – especially if one is concerned about breaking a silent environment like a classroom, library or workplace – will be to either put the phone in “airplane mode” between noon and 1 p.m. MDT or turn off the phone entirely during that hour.
According to the Associated Press and FEMA, posts on social media and on X, the social media network formerly known as Twitter, that say the test will activate nanoparticles in those who have received the COVID vaccine are not true and there are no adverse health effects associated with the signal.
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