FEMA delays nationwide alert test
A plan to test an emergency alert system by hitting nearly every U.S. cell phone with a presidential message was delayed because the agency is focused on Hurricane Florence relief.
With the real and present dangers posed by Hurricane Florence and its aftermath, federal emergency management officials decided to delay testing of the national emergency alert system and wireless emergency alert system until Oct. 3.
The test of the system, which allows the president to send out a text message to cell phones across the nation in the event of a national emergency, was slated for Thursday, Sept. 20.
The event, billed on social media as a text message from President Trump, generated mirth as well as misinformation about the nature of the testing.
The Federal Communications Commission and FEMA oversee warning systems that include the Emergency Alert System, used to disseminate critical information via TV and radio, and the Wireless Emergency Alert system, which triggers notices and messages via cell phones linked to U.S. telecommunications carriers. The WEA system is already in wide use, and transmits messages about weather emergencies, Amber alerts for missing children and other urgent information. Users do not have an opt-out option.
According to FEMA, the WEA test will inform recipients of a "Presidential Alert" and then indicate that the message is a test requiring no further action.