Nationwide Emergency Alert Test Set for October 4: What Morris County Residents Need to Know

FEMA and FCC will conduct a comprehensive test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts and Emergency Alert System, aiming to ensure efficient emergency communication.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in collaboration with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will carry out a nationwide test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wednesday, October 4, at approximately 2:20 p.m.

Purpose of the Test

The primary objective of the test is to validate the effectiveness of these emergency communication systems. The systems aim to provide timely warnings to the public in the face of national-level emergencies.

With the upcoming nationwide test, Morris County residents are encouraged to understand its significance as it serves to enhance our collective preparedness for emergency situations.

What to Expect: WEA and EAS

During the WEA portion of the test, all consumer cell phones will receive a text message displaying the prompt, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” The message will only be sent once, and phones with Spanish language settings will receive the same prompt in Spanish.

For the EAS segment, a message lasting one minute will be broadcast via radios and televisions. The message will state, “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.”

Backup Date and Additional Information

In case the test needs to be postponed due to severe weather conditions or other significant events, a backup date is set for Wednesday, October 11. For more details regarding the test and the FEMA and FCC plan, residents can visit the official FEMA website.

The upcoming nationwide emergency alert test is a pivotal moment for the country's emergency communication systems. Morris County residents are urged to be aware of the test and its purpose in enhancing our readiness for emergencies. "This is only a test. No action is required by the public," the Federal Emergency Management Agency emphasizes.

For more information, Morris County residents can visit www.fema.gov.