The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a nationwide test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wed, Oct. 3 at 2:18 p.m.

The WEA test message will be sent to cell phones that are connected to wireless providers participating in WEA. During this time, WEA compatible cell phones that are switched to receive alerts will receive this 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.”

Please know that the alert will trigger a loud noise on all cell phones, similar to an Amber Alert, and will display the message on all cell phones and mobile devices. As with Amber Alerts, even if a cell phone is “silenced” and on vibrate, the sound will be activated on all phones receiving this alert. Users cannot opt out of receiving the WEA test.

We wanted to share this information with everyone in advance so you are not startled by the alerts when it is received on any staff or student cell phones.For more information, visit https://www.fema.gov/emergency-alert-test.