On Oct. 4, 2023, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) plans a nationwide mobile alert test which will send an emergency SMS to all cellphones in the United States. In coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the national test will be administered at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4. It will consist of two portions that will test Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and Emergency Alert System (EAS) capabilities.

In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, the importance of efficient and effective public warning systems cannot be overstated. As we face a multitude of natural disasters, civil unrest, and health crises, the ability to swiftly communicate impending threats to the right individuals at the right time has become a matter of paramount importance.