A Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) test will take place at 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4.

FEMA, in coordination with the FCC, will conduct a nationwide test of both Wireless Emergency Alerts and the Emergency Alert System. The WEA test alert will be sent to mobile phones nationwide.

Most, but not all, people will receive the WEA test message on their mobile phones. In order to receive the test message:

You must have a WEA-compatible mobile device. (Some older mobile phones do not receive WEA alerts.)

Your device must be turned on.

Your device must not be on "airplane mode."

Your device must be within the coverage area of a cell tower and able to receive a signal from that cell tower.

Your device must be in a geographic area where the wireless provider participates in WEA.

Some older phones may not display the alert if the user is on a call or in a data session.