[Nfbc-info] National Alert

[nancy Lynn]

Below is an article about today's testing of the national alert system.
If you get a ‘Presidential Alert’ on your cellphone Wednesday, it’s legit

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will test its emergency alert system 
for mobile phones, which is expected to reach about 225 million devices.
BY COLLEEN LONGASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — About 225 million electronic devices across the United States 
will wail and buzz Wednesday afternoon as the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency
conducts an emergency alert test.

A tone will sound at 2:18 p.m., similar to that of an Amber Alert or flood 
watch warning, and the subject of the alert will read: “Presidential Alert”
and text will say: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert 
System. No action is needed.”

It is the first test of the national wireless emergency system by FEMA. The 
message will be broadcast by cell towers for 30 minutes, so it’s possible 
some
people may get it at a different time. The alerts will sound as long as the 
device is turned on – even if it’s on mute or do not disturb, and it may 
also
appear on smart watches, officials said.

A second alert on television broadcast and radio will go off at 2:20 p.m. 
The TV and radio alert has been tested for several years.

The system test is for a high-level presidential alert that would be used 
only in a nationwide emergency. It is being completed in coordination with 
the
Federal Communications Commission. FEMA officials said Tuesday they would 
share test result data on how the testing went with mobile carriers to help 
ensure
the system works well in a true emergency.

Phones with mobile carriers that participate in the wireless emergency alert 
system, which sends out information on hazardous weather, or missing 
children,
will get the alert. FEMA officials estimate it will reach about 75 percent 
of all mobile phones in the country, including phones on all of the major 
carriers.

The wireless alert system launched in 2012. While users can opt out of 
messages on missing children and natural disasters, they can’t opt out of 
the presidential
alerts, which are issued at the direction of the White House and activated 
by FEMA.

FEMA officials said the administration can only send such an alert for 
national emergencies or if the public were in peril, rules outlined in a 
2006 law,
and they say it can’t be used for any sort of personal message from the 
president.

A group of New Yorkers filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York arguing 
they should not be compelled to receive the alerts under their right to free 
speech.