A nationwide test of the federal emergency alert system will be broadcast at approximately 2:20 p.m. EDT to cellphones, televisions and radios across the United States.
Most Americans with wireless cellular devices will receive an emergency alert message on their phones, as will most whose televisions or radios are on when the test occurs.
Cell towers will broadcast the emergency alert test for 30 minutes, starting at approximately 2:20 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, but each phone should only receive it once.
FEMA says no personal data is collected from anyone’s devices in the process.
The first test of the national wireless emergency system by the Federal Emergency Management Agency is shown on a cellular phone in Detroit, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018. The Associated Press on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023 reported on social media posts falsely claiming that FEMA’s emergency alert system test on Oct. 4 will send a signal to cell phones nationwide in order to “activate” nanoparticles such as graphene oxide that have been introduced into people’s bodies. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)