FEMA tests its emergency alert system on Wednesday

(Press Release) The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will activate the national emergency alert system (EAS) test and Emergency Wireless Alert (WEA) on October 3rd. The trial was postponed last month due to ongoing reaction efforts for Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas.

The WEA portion of the test starts at 1:18 pm CST, and the EAS part follows at 13:20. CST. The test will assess the state of readiness of the infrastructure for the dissemination of a national message and will determine if improvements are needed.

October 3rd was the scheduled backup date for the test, which was originally set for September 20th. A backup date is always scheduled in case of inclement weather or other significant events on the date of the main test. FEMA, Louisiana and many other members of the emergency management community remain active and response and recovery activities are being conducted in parts of North Carolina and South Carolina.

"As with any aspect of emergency management, it's always important to test our resources and determine if there are any problems," said Jim Waskom, director of GOHSEP. "We look forward to working with our federal partners to review this vital communication tool. It is essential to provide clear and accurate information to people facing an emergency situation to protect the public. "

The WEA system is used to warn the public of dangerous weather conditions, missing children and other critical situations by means of alerts on mobile phones. The national test will use the same tone and vibration as all WEA messages (Tornado warning, AMBER alert). Users can not refuse to receive the WEA test.

The cell towers will broadcast the WEA test for about 30 minutes starting at 1:18 pm. Cell phones should receive the message only once. Meanwhile, WEA compatible cell phones that are turned on, within reach of an active cell tower and whose wireless service provider is participating in WEA should be able to receive the test message. The WEA test message will have a header that reads "Presidential Alert" and a text that says:

"THIS IS A TEST of the national wireless emergency alert system. No action is necessary. "

The EAS is a national public alert system that provides the president with the necessary communication capability to address the nation in a national emergency. The test is made available to regional service participants (ie radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, radio and satellite television providers and wired video providers) and should last about a minute. The test message will be similar to regular monthly EAS test messages to which the public is accustomed. 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 broadcasters and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission and local authorities to keep you informed in case of emergency. If this had been a real emergency, an official message would have followed the tone you heard at the beginning of this message. A similar wireless emergency alert test message was sent to all mobile phones in the country. Some cell phones will receive the message. others will not do it. No action is required. "

Find more weather and preparation tips on GOHSEP's Facebook and Twitter accounts. Listen to conversations about all aspects of emergency management by downloading the podcast of GOHSEP's "Get A Game" program. You can receive emergency alerts on most smartphones and tablets by downloading the new FM Alert app. It's free for basic service. The app Getting a Game Plan is another resource available to help you and your family prepare for any type of emergency. You can download the Emergency Preparedness Guide in Louisiana and find more information at www.getagameplan.org.