The Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) today (Wed Oct 4).

The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 1:20 p.m. Central time this afternoon.

The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions.

The purpose of the test is to ensure the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. No action is required by the public.

In case the test today is postponed because of widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is October 11, 2023.