FEMA's National Emergency Alert Test Sends Alarming Noise to Cellphones

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be conducting a nationwide test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) for cellphones and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) for radio and television today at 2:20 p.m. ET. The test aims to ensure that these systems are in proper working order for potential emergencies. The test will display a message on mobile phones and announce on TV and radio that it is only a test and no action is required. Major U.S. wireless providers will participate, and the test is expected to last for 30 minutes. However, abuse victims are advised to power off their hidden cellphones during the test for safety reasons.