The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is postponing the national emergency alert test previously scheduled for Thursday, September 20 until Wednesday, October 3.
FEMA is currently dealing with the crisis caused by Hurricane Florence.
The test will be the first-ever national emergency alert test on cell phones, TV, and radio.
On October 3, at 11:18 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system will send most cell phones the message “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
At 11:20 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, the Emergency Alert System (EAS) will send out a test message on TV and radio stations.
The public should not call 9-1-1 in response to the test.
The nationwide test ensures that in times of an emergency or disaster, public safety officials can send urgent warnings to the public. Alerts are rare, but can happen locally, statewide, or nationally. A nationwide alert would only be used in the most extreme emergency situation.
“This is the first time a wireless alert has been tested in Oregon, and we don't want anyone to be caught off guard,” said Oregon Office of Emergency Management Director Andrew Phelps. “No matter where someone is—at work, in their car, at school, at the doctor’s office, anywhere—they should hear and see the alert on their phone.”
This test is being conducted by FEMA in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Although this is the fourth EAS nationwide test, it is the first national WEA test.