The Sedalia-Pettis County Emergency Management Agency is informing residents that there will be a nationwide emergency alert test at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4.
According to information from SPCEMA, the alert is a test for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to verify the Emergency Alert System is working properly.
Cell phones, TV and radio broadcasts will be sent a test message from FEMA with a unique tone and vibration to alert the public. It will be similar to the Amber Alerts that go off over electronic devices that receive broadcasts.
SPCEMA offered a preview of what people can expect on their cell phones: A message stating “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed” or “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción,” depending the cell phone’s language settings.
If you do not receive a test message but know others did, SPCEMA states there could be a few reasons. The cellular device has to be turned on and within range of a cell tower. Other factors include whether the device is Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) compatible and whether your cellular service provider participates in the WEA. In any case, SPCEMA states it is best to contact the service provider to find out the best course of action to receive WEA messages.
The other portion of the test will be over the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and will be sent to TV and radio broadcasters at the same time as the WEA.
SPCEMA offered a preview of what people can expect on TV and radio: A message stating, “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 13:20 to 13:50 hours CT. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”
If the test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the backup test date is at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11.
