Wednesday, October 4 National Alert System Testing

As a reminder, Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 1:20 PM CT, FEMA in cooperation with the FCC will be testing the national alert system by WEA and EAS. If this test is canceled due to large-scale severe weather or a national emergency the backup date is October 11.

This alert is not being issued from the state or any Iowa county. It is a national test that will be issued by FEMA. Due to the nature of the coding being used on the test, those residents who have opted out of WEA alerts like Amber Alerts, etc. will still get this alert.

Online FAQ Resources-

FCC- https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/wireless-emergency-alerts-wea

FEMA-https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230803/fema-and-fcc-plan-nationwide-emergency-alert-test-oct-4-2023

HSEMD WEA FAQ- https://homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WEA_FAQs.pdf

WEA Test

•             National code – cannot opt-out

•             Phones that are off or in airplane mode during the testing period will not receive the alert.

•             Will be issued in English and Spanish based on the phone users settings

•             This test will Include the new instruction field for Apple products that are updated to iOS 17

•             All wireless phones should receive the message only once.

The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:

                Beginning at approximately 1:20 p.m. CT, 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.

EAS Test

•             National test code – must carry

•             English and Spanish with audio files

How will this affect the public?

•             Wireless phones should receive a test message accompanied by a unique tone and vibrations. The messages will read:                       “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

•             If Spanish is the set language, the message will read,                                                                                                                                  “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”

•             People listening to radio and television broadcasts will hear a one-minute test message similar to the regular monthly test. 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 13:20 to 13:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”