Cellphones everywhere in the US will blast an alert this afternoon, but don’t worry

When your cellphone — and the phone of pretty much everyone around you — bleats an alert at 2:20 this afternoon, don’t be alarmed.

It is only a test.

U.S. agencies, FEMA and the FCC, are conducting a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts.

Officials say the latter alerts are aimed at “consumer” cellphones and are alerts that would likely be helpful to warn the masses in the event of an actual crisis.

Test messages will also go out on television and radio stations.

In a statement, FEMA said the test is “to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.”

Officials said the messages from cell towers will be broadcast for half an hour, but that wireless phones will probably receive just one message reading: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

This story was originally published October 4, 2023 at 1:12 PM.

Joe Kovac Jr.

The Telegraph

Joe Kovac Jr. writes about local news and features for The Telegraph, with an eye for human-interest stories. Joe is a Warner Robins native and graduate of Warner Robins High. He joined the Telegraph in 1991 after graduating from the University of Georgia. As a Pulliam Fellowship recipient in 1991, Joe worked for the Indianapolis News. His stories have appeared in the Washington Post, the Seattle Times and Atlanta Magazine. He has been a Livingston Award finalist and won numerous Georgia Press Association and Georgia Associated Press awards.