What To Know Before Nation's Emergency Alert System Test: Sheriff

KENDALL COUNTY, IL — The Kendall County Sheriff's Office said Illinois emergency, police and education officials are notifying residents of a first-of-its-kind nationwide test of the country's Wireless Emergency Alert System (WEA) on Wednesday, Oct. 3. The nationwide alert of the nation’s emergency communications infrastructure, via a test called a “Presidential Alert,” will happen at 1:18 p.m., CST, followed by a national test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) at 1:20 p.m, the sheriff's office said. The WEA test message will read: THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.

The EAS message will include a reference to the WEA test: THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency alert, an official message would have followed the alert tone you heard at the start of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert text message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required.

This is the first time the Wireless Emergency Alert system has been tested on a national level, according to the Sheriff's office, and allows most wireless customers to receive geo-targeted alerts of safety threats in their area. The October 3rd WEA test will be sent through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). Cell towers will broadcast the WEA test for approximately 30 minutes.

WEA is used to warn the public about:

• Dangerous weather
• Missing children
• Other regionally critical situations through alerts on cellular phones

“The test is intended to ensure public safety officials have the methods and systems to deliver urgent warnings and alerts to the public in times of an emergency or disaster,” said Acting IEMA Director William Robertson, in a sheriff's office post. “Periodic testing is a way to access the operational readiness of the infrastructure and determine whether technological improvements are needed.”

RELATED:

• Illinois Ranked 5th Most Prepared State For Natural Disasters
  
• What To Know, Do Before National Preparedness Month Starts

The sheriff's office said while each message will clearly state "THIS IS A TEST," and that no action is needed, Illinois State Police will work with local law enforcement and 911 call centers to prepare for the possibility of increased calls, as the Illinois State Board of Education works with schools to make sure parents and children are aware the test will happen during school hours.

Find more information and a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) in English and Spanish via ready.illinois.gov.

Image via Shutterstock