On October 4th, 2023, FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau will conduct a nationwide test to assess of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) capabilities.
PREMB Commissioner, Nino Correa Filomeno, emphasized that: “These test alerts are necessary to verify that the system is working properly so that, in a real case, citizens will know what to do, depending on the information that is issued. Amid this hurricane season, and any time an emergency occurs, it is necessary to have this system in place.”
The WEA and EAS tests are scheduled to begin at approximately at 2:20 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system that FEMA manages which enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks. The WEA test sends a code to cell phones.
Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m., cell towers will broadcast the signal for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, 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. To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration.
Meanwhile, 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.