An emergency test alert is a nationwide test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) that is conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure that the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies. The test is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the IPAWS Open Platform for Emergency Networks and assess the operational readiness of the system and our national alerting capability in the absence of internet connectivity. The national test consists of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities, and both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4. During the test, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes, and WEA-compatible wireless phones 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. The message that appears on the phone will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed” . The EAS message will be disseminated as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message via the IPAWS-OPEN, and the test message will be accompanied by a unique tone and vibration to accommodate people with disabilities. The alert will sound for one minute and will sound similar to the alert received in the case of an Amber Alert or warnings from the National Weather Service.