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The Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct a test of the national alert system that will allow "presidential alerts" to hit the majority of cell phones.
USA TODAY & # 39; HUI

WASHINGTON – Millions of mobile phones are beeping, ringing and vibrating at 2:18 pm sharp Wednesday.

Do not panic.

the The Federal Emergency Management Agency is conducting a national test of its wireless emergency alerts, similar to those conducted on radio and television. In fact, radio and television will begin to broadcast similar messages as part of its emergency warning system (EAS) at 2:20 pm.

"The objective of this test is to ensure that EAS and the MEA are effective ways to inform the public of emergencies, particularly at the national level," he said. FEMA said in a statement. The testing of public alert and warning systems helps to assess the operational readiness of the alert and warning infrastructure. Identify the necessary technological and administrative improvements.

The cell towers will broadcast the WEA test for about 30 minutes. Lit cell phones, 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 mobile phone message will have a header that says "Presidential Alert" and the following text: "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System, no action is needed."

It should appear only once.

This will be the first national test of mobile phone alerts. The system is used to warn the public of dangerous weather conditions, missing children and other critical situations, while offering the President the ability to address the nation in the event of a national emergency.

The exercise is organized in cooperation with the Federal Communications Commission and the National Meteorological Service and with the participation of the communications sector.

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