FEMA's first presidential alert just hit phones in the United States

Updated 14:38 ET: The presidential warning alert from FEMA was successfully broadcast at 2:18 pm ET on phones across the country, according to schedule. As expected, the alert was tracking existing emergency alert systems on existing smartphones, with the usual tone – although the Presidential Alert header is new.

According to the FEMA alert, "Some cell phones will receive the message. others will not do it. No action is required. "- If, for any reason, you have not received the notification, you do not have to worry. This is what it looks like, if you are curious.

Today at 14:18 ET, FEMA will send a "Presidential Alert" to almost every mobile phone in the country to test its Integrated Public Warning and Warning System (IPAWS). In other words, President Trump will send you a text this afternoon (and all other US residents) – but there is no cause for alarm.

If you have already received a severe weather alert, a flood warning or an Amber alert on your phone, you can expect something similar with the presidential alert. The difference is that instead of notifying a local area, the new test will warn almost every mobile phone user in the country (assuming everything goes well). The alert system is intended to give the White House the ability to send a notification to the entire United States in an emergency so that there is no way to withdraw from the message.

In addition to today's announcement at 2:18 pm, FEMA will also test its emergency alert system, which will broadcast the same message two minutes later at 2:20 pm on television and radio.

The test was originally scheduled to take place on September 20, but it was postponed due to an emergency response in the event of extreme weather conditions underway in various parts of the country.

If you're curious, FEMA has already published the text of the message, so here's what to expect later in the day.

THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system has been 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 cell phones in the country. Some cell phones will receive the message. others will not do it. No action is required. "

Correction: The FEMA test will apply to US phone numbers, not just citizens, as this article originally states. In addition, not all phones will be alerted.