All US cell phones will receive presidential alert today.

If all the mobile phones around you come alive with a hitting alarm this afternoon, do not worry. This is not a flood, a tornado, an Amber alert or another potentially catastrophic event. This is simply the test of a Presidential-level Emergency Emergency Alert (WEA), which will be used to warn Americans in the event of a national emergency.

At 14:18 ET on October 3, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the FCC will send a test alert to all US cell phones.

This will look a lot like severe weather warnings or Amber alerts that mobile phone users are familiar with. The WEA will say: "Presidential Alert – THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System – No Action Needed."

All mobile operators participating in the WEA system will send the alert; There are approximately 100 WEA carriers in the United States, including the top four suppliers.

Nevertheless, senior FEMA officials estimate that only 75% of US cell phones will receive the alert today. The phone must be turned on and within range of an active cell tower during the test, and the alert will not interrupt phone calls nor will it display on phones with active data session in the background.

The cell towers will also broadcast the alert for only about 30 minutes. Therefore, if you are on the phone or out of range for half an hour after 14:18. AND, you might miss it.

If you are in range, however, you receive the alert, whether you like it or not. You can not unsubscribe as you wish for Amber Alerts and other emergency alerts in your mobile phone settings. The idea is that these "presidential" alerts will only be used in extreme circumstances, such as a coordinated terrorist or terrorist attack, for the sending of the message to override your desire not to receive d & # 39; alert.

They are remarkable, according to FEMA officials, because of their scope. Most wireless alerts, such as messages about missing children, are sent by local and national authorities and are limited to phones from a given area. Weather alerts can be sent all over the country, but not all at the same time as presidential alerts.

The alert of today is the first national test of the WEA system. The legislation passed by Congress in 2015 requires "nationwide system testing every three years", and it's the number one test. Hope this will not traumatize those in Hawaii.

Officials will also test the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wednesday from 14:20. AND, who goes to the radio and television stations, so do not panic. This will be the fourth national test of the EAS after similar tests in 2011, 2016 and 2017.

Meanwhile, when news of these presidential alerts has been published, some have described them as a way for President Trump to send texts nationwide to everyone, no matter how simple they are. He could send a tweet. Rest assured that although these alerts come from the White House, Trump himself does not support sending and they are reserved for the most extreme circumstances.