For the first time since August 2021, cell phones, televisions, and radio stations sounded emergency alerts as part of a nationwide test. The blaring tone and text messages came through around 2:20 p.m. ET /11:20 a.m. PT.
The coordinated effort between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) tested the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).
The process involved two parts with a signal sent to radios and televisions for the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and a similar one sent to all consumer cell phones for the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system.
Federal law requires the systems be tested at least once every three years. The last nationwide test was on August 11, 2021.
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