BY DIANA BAUTISTA
Just yesterday, electronic devices nationwide, including cellphones, TVs, and radios, went off, creating a loud warning sound and vibration as part of an emergency alert. This test alert was accompanied by a message from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
FEMA coordinated the national test of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) with the Federal Communications Commission. The test was sent via WEA to cellphones and via EAS to televisions and radios.
At approximately 2:20 p.m. Eastern time almost everyone’s phone received the alert simultaneously. “I was so confused because my phone has never gone off like that. I have heard other people’s phones go off, but never mine,” said Alexander Volazquez, a Spanish speaker and recent iPhone user. “I just moved to the United States almost a year ago. I never knew they had emergency alerts for your phone.”
The alert is designed to allow the President to address the residents within 10 minutes during a national emergency through specific outlets. These wireless alerts consist of short messages with 360 characters or less, which are sent to phones to inform the owners of important information.
The purpose of yesterday’s test was to ensure that the system continues to function in the event of warnings or public emergencies, especially those at the national level.
FEMA, in collaboration with the FCC and other stakeholders, took measures to prepare for this national test, aiming to minimize receiver confusion and enhance public safety. The test occurred within a 30-minute window, with cellphones expected to receive it once. Alerts lasted approximately 15 seconds.
Since 2015, FEMA has been legally required to conduct a test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System at least once every three years. The most recent national test took place in 2021.
Customers whose phones were set to the Spanish language setting should have received the message in Spanish.
“I really liked that my message was in Spanish since I don’t know how to read in English. If something were to ever happen, I’d feel less worried about not understanding what’s going on,” said Jennifer Sanchez, a Spanish speaker.
According to Spectrum News NY 1, Antwane Johnson, Director of FEMA’s Intergrated Public Alert and Warning System, received reports from individuals and colleagues at a conference for emergency managers in Tennessee from across the country. While observing the test, Johnson was able to witness an entire map “light up.” He added, “I am totally elated” and confident that the test performed as expected. However, he also noted that the government would need to gather and analyze the data in the upcoming weeks.