Make Sure You Get FEMA’s Oct. 4 Test Alert

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducts periodic tests of its Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS)—which includes the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)—to make sure U.S. residents get crucial emergency notifications. On October 4, FEMA will be running its seventh test of EAS and its third WEA test (but only the second to all cellular devices).

When the test happens starting around 11:20 PST, televisions and radios will broadcast the EAS test, and all phones that are prepared to receive such notifications will get the WEA test alert, a loud signal (and vibration) followed by a text message signaling that it is only a test. Cellular providers will send the signal between 11:20 and 11:50, but each phone should only receive the signal once.

Types of WEA Messages

WEA can send five types of messages:

• Imminent Threat alerts (extreme weather and other dangers in the area)

• Public Safety alerts

• AMBER alerts and SILVER alerts

• Test messages

• Presidential alerts

Getting the Test WEA Message

Make sure you’re not conducting any important gatherings or meetings during the test, as it will likely be briefly interrupted by phones sounding.

To get such notifications, which can also be used by local jurisdictions to disseminate critical information, make sure your phone is not in airplane mode, that you are within cell range, and that your phone is set up as follows. (Note: Some wireless providers do not participate in WEA.)

iPhone

• Settings > Notifications

• Scroll to the bottom of the screen.

• Government Alerts > Emergency Alerts, Public Safety Alerts, AMBER alerts, and Test Alerts. Turn on and choose Always Deliver or Always Play Sound if either is an option.

• If emergency alerts are turned on, the circle will be on the right-hand side of the switch.

• If emergency alerts are turned off, the circle will be on the left-hand side of the switch.

Android

• Settings > Search > Emergency Alerts or Public Safety Messages. You may have to click the three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the screen first. If you can’t find Emergency Alerts, try searching in the text message app. instead.

• Turn on all alerts (Extreme Threats, Severe Threats, Public Safety Messages, etc.).

• If alerts are turned on, the circle will be on the right-hand side of the switch.

• If alerts are turned off, the circle will be on the left-hand side of the switch.

Please note that when you buy a new cellular phone, the WEA test alert option is disabled. You need to activate it by following the manufacturer’s or cellular provider’s instructions.

You may send feedback to FEMA on the alert to FEMA-National-Test@fema.dhs.gov.

Make sure you are also signed up for messages from the City of Bainbridge Island through Nixle: Text 98110 to 888777.