The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office is reminding residents that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021 at 2:20 p.m.
The national test will consist of two portions, both beginning at 2:20 p.m. The WEA portion will be directed only to cell phones where the subscriber has opted-in to receive test messages. The test message will display in either English or Spanish, depending on the language settings on your device. The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions.
The test is intended to ensure public safety officials have the methods and systems that will deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public in times of an emergency or disaster. In case the Aug. 11 test is canceled due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is scheduled for Aug. 25, 2021
Launched in 2012, WEA is a tool for authorized government agencies to reach the American public during times of national emergency. It is also used locally to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations through alerts on cell phones. In the event of a local emergency, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office has the capability to send a WEA message within Mecklenburg County.
What to Expect
Beginning at 2:20 p.m., cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones where the subscriber has opted-in to receive test messages, that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message.
For those who have opted in to receive WEA test messages, the message that will appear on their phone will read, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” Opt-in phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display, “ESTA ES UNA PREUBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”
The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and will be conducted with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers (EAS participants). The test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. It will state, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message. No action is required.”
As always, you can monitor Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for local information and updates.
