Nationwide Alert Set for Wednesday

EAST TEXAS – Don’t be surprised if your cell phone, and all those around you, goes off Wednesday. In fact, cell phones all across the country will go off Wednesday afternoon at 1:18 East Texas time. It is first nationwide test of a wireless emergency alert system. FEMA says the alert will not interrupt a phone call or an active data session. Even if you have opted out of other emergency alerts, you should still receive the national alert. The message will say, “Presidential Alert: This is a test of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” About two minutes later, the broadcast system will send a similar message through radio and television stations.

The national-level alert is meant to be used in the case of national threats like a nuclear attack or terrorist attacks in multiple cities. And just because the alert is being called a “Presidential Level Alert,” it is not coming from the president. Emergency messages are pre-written and approved by various government agencies in advance of any test or emergency.