WASHINGTON FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts(WEA) on Wednesday, October3, 2018. The WEA portion of the test, which will be sent to consumer cell phones, will begin at 2:18 p.m. EDT.
The test message will appear on consumers phones and read, THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed. Phones will display this national test using the header Presidential Alert. These nationwide alerts, established pursuant to the WARN Act of 2006, are meant for use in a national emergency and are the only type of alert that can be sent simultaneously nationwide by FEMA.
Further details of the event can be found at FEMAs website.
Source: FAANationwide Emergency Alert System Test Planned for Oct. 3