ALACHUA COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – On Wednesday, Oct. 4, cell phones across America are scheduled to receive a message as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).

The national test is scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET.

The WEA portion of the test will come across your cell phone in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language setting on your phone.

The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions.

FEMA says the purpose of the test is to ensure that the systems are effective means of warning you about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.

All wireless phones that are on and in range of a cell tower should receive the test. Here’s what you can expect:

  • A message on your phone will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
  • Similar to when your phone receives an Amber Alert, the WEA alert tone is generally only played when the alert is initially received by the phone and on some devices stops as soon as you click a button.
  • If a phone is off before the test alert is sent and not turned back on until after the WEA Test expires (approximately 30 minutes), your phone should not get the test message.

FEMA says 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.

Important information about the EAS test:

  • 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.
  • The test message will be similar to the monthly EAS test messages. It will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) issued a warning to domestic violence victims who might have hidden emergency phones. They say the best course of action is to turn the secret phone off completely.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Alachua Police Department (APD) encourages community members who may be victims of domestic violence to call the Peaceful Paths 24-hour helpline at 352-377-8255.

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the EAS and WEA tests here.