Politics & Government
Alert Warning Systems To Be Tested Oct. 3: County
Anne Arundel County residents will hear and receive public safety test warnings on Oct. 3.
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Don't be alarmed Wednesday when you hear alert tones on your radio or TV station, and get messages on your cell phones. The first nationwide test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System will be done Oct. 3, according to a news release from the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission will conduct the test, which encompasses the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert System. The systems provide emergency alerts and information from emergency officials to warn the public of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other manmade disasters or threats to public safety.
The WEA portion of the test begins at 2:18 p.m. ET, and the EAS portion follows at 2:20 p.m. ET. The message will be broadcast on radio, TV, cable stations, cell phones, and Internet applications.
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“We don't want anyone to be alarmed. Alerts will be received in the form of loud tones and a pop-up message your phone,” said J. Kevin Aftung, director of the Office of Emergency Management.
The WEA test message will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
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The EAS message will say: “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, an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. A similar Wireless Emergency Alert test message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required.”
This test is being conducted by FEMA in coordination with the FCC. For more information visit: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-alert-test.
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