SAINT PAUL, Minn-- Cellphones across the country beeped and buzzed in unison Wednesday afternoon for the first test of FEMA's new "presidential alert" system.
But we got a lot of questions from you about what it is and how it will be used.
Nearly 225-million cell phones received the message, but there was some confusion online about who actually sent it.
Since it's called the "presidential alert system" some argue it's President Trump who has the power to send out anything he wants.
Minnesota Homeland Security Deputy Director Kevin Reed says that’s not the case.
"There are protocols into using this. He's not technically pushing the button. He's approving the message," Reed explains.
The system is actually controlled by FEMA, so no, the president doesn't have free reign to send out messages whenever he feels like it.
Another claim some social media users made online was that the system can be used to track people’s phones.
"That’s not the case. It doesn't know if it's responded to. It doesn't know if you've looked at it. It doesn't know your phone number. It doesn't track anything that you have on your phone," Reed explains.
The alert may look like a text, but Reed says it’s actually a signal, kind of like a radio signal that you can pick up on your car radio.
And like your radio, the signal can’t record what’s going on around it, so no, the new alert system can’t track you.
Another claim people are making online is that the system will be sending out messages constantly.
Reed says the criteria for a message like this are so strict that you may never see a message in your life time, in fact, that’s what he’s hoping for.
“It would have to be something big, like a coordinated attack or an inbound missile coming from somewhere,” Reed explains.
The only event in recent history that would warrant a message like this would be the attack on 9/11, but Reed says even then the system might not have been used.
“The immediate danger and threat was only for a few places, not the entire country,” Reed explains.
So, you don't have to worry about messages filling up your phone.
However, Reed says now would be the perfect time to go over your own personal plan with your family.
"I hope this test would start that conversation of what would I do if this were actually happening and not just a test.”
Emergency managers say the new alert system won't affect your cell phone plan because it's technically a signal, not a text.
If you have something you'd like us to Verify, you can send your questions to Verify@kare11.com