(ETH) – An emergency alert test will be sent to televisions, radios, and select cell phones nationwide, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. According to AZFamily, The tests will begin at 11:20 a.m. MST on August 11 and will be sent to electronics that have opted to receive text messages.
Allen Clark, director of the Arizona Division of Emergency Management, stated the department wanted to let Arizonans know about the scheduled tests so they won’t be alarmed when they hear or see the alerts. This will be the second-ever test of the WEA system on mobile devices, and the first test of the system with the opt-in feature present.
The message will display in either English or Spanish depending on the language setting of each phone that has opted in to receive the message. This test will be the sixth ever sent over television and radio.
According to WWLP, The purpose of the Aug. 11 test is to ensure that the EAS and WEA systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.
Periodic testing of public alert and warning systems helps to assess the operational readiness of alerting infrastructure and to identify any needed technological and administrative improvements.
The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized Internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks.
The WEA test will be administered via a code that alerts only phones that have opted in to receive WEA test messages. The EAS portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA-designated Primary Entry Point stations. In case the Aug. 11 test is canceled due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, a back-up testing date is scheduled for Aug. 25.
