If you’ve ever listened to the radio or watched TV, you’re probably familiar with the Emergency Broadcast system, which interrupts your regularly scheduled broadcast with an annoying tone, followed by a message.
That system will be tested today, (Aug. 11) at 2:20 p.m. ET, which will send out an alert not just on the airwaves, but also to phones that have opted in to receive alerts. This is the second test of the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system since it was implemented in 2018, and has been used on a local level for such things as AMBER alerts or severe weather.
Since its inception, FEMA has upgraded WEA so that it can send more detailed messages, the ability to include web links, and support for Spanish-language alerts to phones where the default language is set to Spanish. It’s also improved geo-targeting so that the intended message more precisely reaches those for whom it’s intended.
This is the second ever nationwide WEA test. Those who have opted in should receive the following message: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
If you’d rather not have your phone buzz today (or whenever there’s an AMBER alert), you can deactivate this feature in your phone. Here’s how.
How to opt out of receiving emergency alerts
How to opt out of emergency alerts on Android phones
1. Open the Messages app
2. Open Settings.
3. Select Advanced
4. Click on Wireless Emergency Alerts
5. Click on Settings (this may be three dots in the upper right corner)
6. Choose which alerts you wish to receive, if any.
How to opt out of emergency alerts on iPhones
1. Open Settings
2. Select Notifications
3. Scroll to the bottom of the screen to the Government Alerts section.
4. Choose which alerts you want to receive.
Keep in mind that turning off this feature will not disable Presidential Alerts, which are also sent out nationally.
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