MINNEAPOLIS — When an emergency alert tone starts going off on your phone this week, don't be alarmed. It's all part of a planned test.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is conducting a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on Wednesday, Oct. 4
The tests will happen at the same time and are scheduled to begin at 1:20 p.m. CT (2:20 ET).
The WEA test will be sent to all cell phones and will display the message in English or Spanish, depending on the device's language settings.
While the test will start at 1:20 p.m. CT, it will continue to be broadcast for about 30 minutes, so your phone could receive the alert any time between 1:20 and 1:50 p.m.
According to FEMA, the alert will say "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
As it is also the first Wednesday of the month, prepare for a cacophony of alarms. Hennepin County announced on X that they will sound tornado sirens at 1:20 p.m. instead of their usual time of 1 p.m. to sync with phone alerts.
The EAS will also sound on radios and television.
FEMA says the purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to "ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level."
If widespread severe weather is forecast for Wednesday, the test will be postponed until Oct. 11.
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