On Thursday, September 30, 2018 the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). Bristol Tennessee Police Department is advising the community of this test so that no one is alarmed upon receiving the text message. The WEA portion of the test commences at 2:18 P.M. EDT. The EAS portion follows at 2:20 P.M. EDT. The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether improvements are needed.
During this time, WEA compatible cell phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA should be capable of receiving the test message. The WEA test message will have a header that reads “Presidential Alert” and text that says: “This is a test of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
The WEA message will be sent to cell phones that are connected to wireless providers participating in WEA. Similar tests were conducted in 2011, 2016, and 2017 in collaboration with the FCC, broadcasters, and emergency management officials in recognition of FEA’s National Preparedness Month.
The EAS is a national public warning system that provides the President with the communications capability to address the nation during a national emergency.
For more information, contact Sergeant Daniel Graham at 424-989-5600 or [email protected]
