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Why everyone’s phone will alarm at 2:20 pm ET on Wednesday

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Summary

On Wednesday at 2:20 pm ET, the federal government will conduct a nationwide test of its Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts. All cell phones will receive a text message saying "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed." All radios and televisions will also broadcast a one minute message saying "This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System...No action is required by the public." This will be the seventh-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and the third nationwide test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts. There have been previous high-profile mistakes attributed to errors at the state-level, such as a 2018 misfire in Hawaii and a pre-dawn test alert sent to cell phones in Florida.

Q&As

What will happen on Wednesday at 2:20 pm ET?
All wireless phones will receive an alert and an accompanying text message.

What will the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts test involve?
The EAS portion of the test will send an emergency alert to all radios and televisions, while the WEA portion of the test will direct alerts to all consumer cell phones.

How will the tests be broadcast?
The test will be broadcast by cell towers for approximately 30 minutes beginning at 2:20 pm ET.

Has the US government conducted similar tests in the past?
Yes, Wednesday's test is set to be the seventh-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System – the alerts that are sent through radio and television broadcasters. It is the third nationwide test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts.

Has the US government ever made mistakes regarding emergency alerts?
Yes, there have been multiple high-profile mistakes, attributed to errors at the state-level, associated with mobile emergency alert systems that hit cell phones.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides a comprehensive overview of the upcoming Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts tests taking place on Wednesday. It also explains what is involved in the test and how it may impact different users.

👎 This article fails to address the potential vulnerabilities of this system. It also does not provide an explanation of how the false alert in Hawaii occurred, leaving readers in the dark about the possible risks of this system.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts that will be conducted this Wednesday. It will include an emergency alert sent to radios and televisions, as well as a text message sent to all consumer cell phones.

Friend: Wow, that's pretty interesting. What are the implications of this?

Me: Well, this is a good way for the government to test the effectiveness of the emergency alert system and make sure it's working correctly. It also brings attention to the potential vulnerabilities of the system, such as malicious hackers being able to broadcast fake messages. It's also a reminder of how a mistake could cause chaos, like the false missile warning alert in Hawaii in 2018. So overall, this is a reminder to be prepared for emergencies and to take the necessary steps to protect our safety.

Action items

Set a reminder on your phone for 2:20 pm ET on Wednesday to be prepared for the nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts.
Make sure your phone is switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and that your wireless provider participates in WEA tests.
Update the software of any TV and radio networks you use to transmit emergency alerts to address any potential vulnerabilities.

Technical terms

EAS: Emergency Alert System. A system used by the federal government to send emergency alerts to radios and televisions.
WEA: Wireless Emergency Alerts. A system used by the federal government to send emergency alerts to consumer cell phones.
FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency. The agency responsible for conducting the test in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission.
FCC: Federal Communications Commission. The agency responsible for coordinating the test with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.