The nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) will occur on Wednesday, October 3. The test, which will be conducted by FEMA in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), was originally scheduled to take place on September 20 but was postponed due to response and recovery efforts after Hurricane Florence.
In Oregon, the WEA portion of the test commences at 11:18 a.m. Pacific Time, and the EAS portion follows at 11:20 a.m. Pacific Time. The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether improvements are needed.
FEMA and OEM remind the public:
- No action is required.
- While the test begins at 11:18 a.m. Pacific Time, it may take several minutes for the alert to reach your phone.
- Most cell phones will sound the alert; do not be caught off-guard if you are in your car, at a personal or business appointment or other location.
- There is no threat; it is only a test. Do not call 9-1-1.
- The alert message will also be broadcast over radio and television.
- Additional information is available at https://www.gov/emergency-test-alert.
The nationwide test ensures that in times of an emergency or disaster, public safety officials have methods and systems that will deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public. Alerts are rare, but can happen locally, statewide, or nationally. According to FEMA, a nationwide WEA message would only be used in the most extreme emergency situation.