Kayla Clark

Between 7th and 8th period, a National Alert Test will activate on every phone in the country.

A national test alert is scheduled to occur today, October 4th at 2:20 EST (1:20 CST). The goal of this test is to ensure that the systems implied in cellular devices showcase effectiveness in the height of a public emergency, particularly those on the national level. 

Mr. DeBruycker will be making an announcement at 1:15 today as a reminder of the event. The alert is expected to go off during the passing period in between the 7th and 8th period. Students are expected to turn off their phones prior.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA along with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are partnering to conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The testing will evaluate WEA and EAS capabilities.

The WEA segment of the test will implement FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system ran by FEMA. This permits high authorities to send authenticated emergency messages directly to the public through multiple communications networks; geared specifically to cell phones.

On the other hand, the EAS message will be publicized as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS-OPEN). This will be conducted through radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television/wireline video providers.

Ways to prevent hearing the alert on your device include completely shutting off your device, turning on airplane mode, and or making sure the device is disconnected from any cell tower. An announcement on the loudspeaker will provide adequate directions for further instruction.