FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TO CONDUCT TEST OF NATIONWIDE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM

2:20 PM EST on November 17; first national periodic test since 2023 

ERIE COUNTY, NY— The Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), have announced an upcoming test of the Nationwide Emergency Alert System (“EAS”) scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 17 at 2:20 PM EST.  This is the first national periodic test since 2023. In the past, those tests occurred every two years.

All EAS participants, which will include nearly all licensed radio stations in the U.S., are required to participate in the test. FEMA will transmit the nationwide test at 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday Nov. 17 using the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (“IPAWS”). The test will be disseminated in English and Spanish with the following message:

“This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 2:20 to 2:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”

The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015 requires FEMA to conduct nationwide tests of the public alert and warning system.

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