Nationwide Emergency Alert Test Scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday

Don’t be alarmed if you see emergency alert messages everywhere you turn Wednesday afternoon.

FEMA and the FCC are scheduled to conduct the first national test of the Nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) at 1 p.m. Central time Wednesday.

The test is scheduled to run for 30 seconds but could last as long as three-and-a-half minutes. It’s supposed to run on all television and radio stations at the same time, according to FEMA.

People tuned in at that time will hear the familiar refrain of “This is a test.” The image seen on TV screens, however, may or may not clarify that it’s just a practice run, FEMA said.

That’s because the test will be disseminated using the same method as during a real emergency.

A simultaneous nationwide test of the EAS has never occurred, FEMA said.

“FEMA and federal partners are working with the EAS Community to assess if the national-level system will work as designed should officials ever need to send a national alert,” the agency said. 

The test is being conducted Wednesday because of a lull in weather patterns, FEMA said. 

It’s almost the end of hurricane season and severe winter weather hasn’t hit most places in the U.S. yet, so it’s less likely regions will be experiencing an actual emergency at that time. 

The included a note to residents informing them of the test in last week’s Darien Direct Connect email. 

Officer Nick Skweres said the department will also post something on its Facebook page Wednesday to remind residents not to be alarmed during the test.