Wednesday Oct 3, 2018
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM CDT
On October 3rd (originally scheduled for September 20th), FEMA will be testing the Presidential Alert System for the first time. This system was will send notifications over nearly all forms of media and directly to all compatible devices, including cell phones. The alert will be sent at approximately 1:18 pm Central time. The system was designed following a 2016 law creating the Wireless Emergency Alerts. Unlike other statewide alerts, compatible devices are not able to opt-out of Presidential Alert System messages. Those with newer cell phones will receive the notification regardless of your notification settings for any other alert system.
According to FEMA, the message will be identified as a “Presidential Alert” containing the text “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
Some of the information I have found indicates that the alert has the potential to completely interrupt all other communications to your cell phone when the alert is sent. Until the test happens it is unclear exactly what interruption it will cause so please be aware there is a potential for phone calls to be dropped when the alert reaches you.
Please share this information with your friends and family so everyone can be informed ahead of the test. More information about the test can easily be found by doing a web search for Presidential Alert System Test.
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