Remember last year when everyone’s cellphones, televisions and radios were hit a with an alert at the same time?
The date, to be exact, was Oct. 4, and that was a test of the nationwide Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts. It was also probably about as memorable a test as we have ever experienced. And that is because some folks on the internet — looking at you social media users over on X — lost their minds, with some even claiming that the tone in the alert would turn folks into zombies.
Seriously, the conspiracy theorists were out in full force for that one.
Guess what? No zombies. Shocker. So, maybe next time the test goes down we can all act like adults, right?
Anyway, it all brings us to one question: exactly when will the next nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts take place?
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Well, October’s test was the third nationwide test and second to all cellular devices, according to FEMA. And the agency told PennLive that it is still “analyzing results” from that test “and determining whether the next national public alert and warning system will be in 2024 or 2025.”
“Data collection and analysis of all the elements involved in the nationwide alert and warning systems is extensive, but nearing completion,” the agency said. “FEMA confirmed on test day that all cell carriers that participate in WEA received the alert and the EAS test alert was successfully processed and made available to broadcasters.”
FEMA added that “full reports on the 2023 results will be published in the next few months.”
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The purpose of the tests, according to FEMA’s website, are to “ensure that systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.”
So, the date has not be set in stone yet, but expect to see another nationwide test happen sometime, likely, this year or next.
And when the date is determined and as it nears, remember that you didn’t turn into a zombie in 2023, these tests are important, and whatever new conspiracy theory that is cooked up heading into it all is probably about as accurate as the last round of tall tales was.