File photo.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced a nationwide test of both the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) scheduled for Wednesday.
The tests of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts will start nationwide at 2:20 p.m. The test will last approximately 30 minutes, meaning phones could receive the alert between 2:20 and 2:50 p.m., officials said.
The message will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
The alert will automatically display in English or Spanish, based on the phone’s preset language settings.
Simultaneously, the EAS — a system designed to allow the President of the U.S. to address the American public during national emergencies — will be activated. This test will be particularly noticeable as it interrupts regular programming to broadcast on radios and televisions nationwide.
In the event of national crises, from extreme weather events to potential security threats, the EAS and WEA play pivotal roles in disseminating vital information rapidly. By reaching out directly to the public through channels most commonly in use, such as cell phones and broadcast media, FEMA aims to ensure that the maximum number of people are alerted and can take necessary precautions.
In a statement, FEMA highlighted the purpose behind the Wednesday test is to to “ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.”
The test has pushed forward laughably false conspiracy claims that the test will turn people into “zombies” through nanoparticles human bodies. However, some people are being tricked into believing the false claims. The Associated Press reported on the conspiracy.
