On October 4, 2023, FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) conducted a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) . The test was conducted to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. The test messages were sent to all TVs, radios, and cell phones. The WEA portion of the test was initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), 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 was administered via a code sent to cell phones. The test message was similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar, and it stated: “This is a nationwide test…” . If the October 4 test date was postponed, the back-up testing date was October 11.