National Alert System to be Tested via TV, Radio, and Mobile Phones in the U.S.

On October 4, every television, radio, and mobile phone in the United States will broadcast a message stating, "No action is needed." This was reported by The New York Times.

The test notification will be sent around 2:20 PM Eastern Time. The exercise will be conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in partnership with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The purpose of the test is to ensure that the alert system is ready to inform the public about emergencies. If a real emergency occurs on October 4, such as severe weather, a backup testing date will be set for October 11.

The media notes that this will be the seventh nationwide test conducted via broadcast radio and television of the emergency alert system and the second test sent to all mobile devices.

“Federal agencies want to ensure that the technology is working correctly and also want people to know about the existence of such alerts before they are activated,” said Jeff Schlegelmilch, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University. “Alerts are only effective when people know what they are and understand what to do with them,” he added.

The test will also take place in Maui, Hawaii, where rapidly spreading wildfires had previously been reported. During that emergency, local authorities decided not to activate emergency signals that could warn residents of danger, according to the media.

While it is useful to implement a national emergency alert, many situations do not require such notifications. “There are very few cases when you would notify the entire country about something,” Schlegelmilch said. He pointed out that the public typically receives local and regional alerts regarding extreme weather conditions or other emergencies, such as a child going missing.

“Multiple alerts can be sent to mobile devices. Alerts about missing persons, also known as Amber Alerts, are issued in cases of child abductions. Threat alerts can be sent during severe weather situations or active shooters to keep people safe from danger, while public safety announcements can provide useful information when there is no immediate threat. Presidential alerts can be sent in cases of national emergencies,” the media reported.

The U.S. has been sending emergency alerts to mobile phones for over a decade, according to the FCC. Other countries, such as the Netherlands and Japan, use similar systems. Recently, in April, the United Kingdom tested its new emergency alerting system.

The media indicated that there have also been false alerts: “In January 2018, residents of Hawaii received a false emergency alert warning of an incoming ballistic missile. It took nearly 38 minutes for the state to send another notification declaring the previous alert a mistake. The employee who sent the alert believed the state was facing a real threat.”

According to the FCC, mobile phone users can partially opt-out of some notifications. Wireless operators may offer the option to block certain alerts, including those that include immediate safety threats and Amber Alerts. Consumers cannot block national alerts.