FEMA Wireless Emergency Alert System Tests

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), conducts nationwide tests of the Wireless Emergency Alert System (WEAs) and Emergency Alert System (EAS). WEAs are designed to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations through alerts on cell phones. The EAS system is also used in major emergencies to broadcast emergency information via radio and television.

The public is generally notified 24 hours in advance of these tests. Only cell phones who have the test setting enabled will receive the WEA test. You can opt-in for tests online.

Opt-in for WEA test alerts on Android and iOS phones.

FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this summer.

The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests will begin at 2:20 PM on Wednesday, August 11.

The Wireless Emergency Alert portion of the test will be directed only to consumer cell phones where the subscriber has opted-in to receive test messages. This will be the second nationwide WEA test, but the first nationwide WEA test on a consumer opt-in basis. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.

The Emergency Alert System portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions.

Learn more about this emergency alert test.

FEMA Wireless Emergency Alert System Tests

August 11, 2021 Test