Here’s what that FEMA emergency alert on your phone means

FEMA testing notification on mobile phones

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2016, file photo an iPhone is seen in Washington. At a time of widespread digital insecurity it turns out that the oldest and simplest computer fix there is turning a device off then back on again can thwart hackers from stealing information from smartphones. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) (Carolyn Kaster, Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

ORLANDO, Fla. – Cellphones across the country will light up at 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday as federal agencies put their emergency system to the test.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Federal Communications Commission are doing a periodic test of its Emergency Alert System. The test typically appears on television and radio stations with a blaring warning sound. In recent years, agencies have been adapting this notification for cellphones.

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Not all cellphones will buzz at the same time though.

People who have opted to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts from FEMA will get a push alert on their phone with a high-pitch tone and a message warning it’s a test. Wednesday’s notification would be the sixth nationwide test of the cell phone alert system.

Such notifications could warn of large-scale and potentially dangerous weather events or public emergencies at the local or federal level. Here’s how to opt-in for the notifications.

Wednesday’s test could be delayed due to severe weather in certain areas. The backup test run is scheduled for Aug. 25.


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