National emergency alert test will affect all U.S. iPhones on Wednesday
FEMA and the FCC will be holding a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on October 4, with test messages sent to all iPhones, TVs, and radios.
The test, set to take place at 2:20p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, October 4, will consist of two portions that will occur at the same time. The EAS section will handle sending the test message to televisions and radios at the time, and will be the seventh cross-U.S. test of its kind.
The second portion, of WEA, will target all consumer cell phones and smartphones. While it is the third nationwide test, it will be the second that will hit all cellular devices.
The last WEA test took place in August 2021.
The WEA test will be conducted using FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), which is a centralized internet-based system managed by FEMA to send authenticated emergency messages via multiple communication networks.
As part of the test, the actual test message will be displayed in either English or Spanish, depending on the language settings of the device. In English, the message will state "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed."
A noise will be played that is the same tone and volume as other National Weather Service warnings or Amber Alerts.
Turned on smartphones with cellular access will receive the message, so devices set to run using just Wi-Fi or in airplane mode won't get the notification.
iPhone owners who don't want to receive the emergency alert test can dial specific numbers to disable or enable the system for their devices. Dial *5005*25371# to enable test notifications, or dial *5005*25370# to disable test notifications.
If the October 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, a backup test date has been set for October 11.
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Comments
I've always been alone when they've come, but I couldn't imagine being in a crowded room.
That is why the government pointed out that it only involves participating mobile carriers.
Also, the advice about entering strings of characters into the phone is off track for three reasons:
1. Apple changed this to a simple toggle in the phone settings;
2. All phones ship from the factory with the test toggle OFF. There is no reason to toggle that on, unless you are affiliated with a public safety agency that is doing these internal tests. And - most importantly:
3. The national test is sent with the National Alert code, not a test code. Turning off all alerts and tests in the phone settings will have no effect on reception of the test. This is clear from the FAQ.
If there is something significant (6 or more) in the future, I would welcome a head's up.
During cv BS a few years ago, we got many warnings through our cable provider involving apparent kidnappings hundreds of miles away from us. There was no way to opt out, and clearly there was nothing we could do. It was just a way of scaring people.
If there's a nuclear warhead coming my way, what am I going to do about it? Hide under my desk?
There may be other ways of taking myself out of this, but I'm going to turn my iPhone off for the hour this test is supposed to happen.
Seems about right. Especially the last one.