{"id":27685,"date":"2023-10-03T09:13:11","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T13:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mdem\/?p=27685"},"modified":"2023-10-03T09:13:11","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T13:13:11","slug":"maryland-will-receive-radio-television-and-cell-phone-alerts-during-national-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mdem\/2023\/10\/03\/maryland-will-receive-radio-television-and-cell-phone-alerts-during-national-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryland Will Receive Radio, Television, and Cell Phone Alerts During National Test"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wednesday, Oct. 4, Afternoon Test Will Include Wireless Emergency Alert and Emergency Alert System Messages<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"EmergencyREISTERSTOWN, MD (October 3, 2023)\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014\u00a0<\/strong>Maryland residents and those visiting the State will see tests of federal warning alerts as part of a nationwide test Wednesday, Oct. 4, beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. EDT. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct the\u00a0national test<\/a>\u00a0of the\u00a0Emergency Alert System<\/a>\u00a0(EAS) and\u00a0Wireless Emergency Alerts<\/a>\u00a0(WEA).<\/p>\n

The purpose of this national test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers, and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and to maximize the public safety value of the test.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese tests help to ensure that residents across the country can receive timely messages about emergencies,\u201d said Russ Strickland, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM). \u201cThis is the system that sends the weather warnings and Amber alerts, and it is an important tool to test the effectiveness of the system.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

WEA TEST:\u00a0<\/strong>The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using\u00a0FEMA\u2019s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)<\/a>, a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks. The WEA test will be administered via a code sent to cell phones. The test message will display in either English or Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.<\/p>\n

All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:<\/p>\n