Nationwide EAS test is this afternoon; you’ll receive alert on your cell phone

You will notice an alert on your cell phone early this afternoon.

It’s part of federal government’s nationwide emergency alert system test. 939 the Eagle and Zimmer Radio chief engineer Mike Mayfield says the test will be conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Mr. Mayfield says there will be two tests today, both are 1:20 central time. One will be a test of wireless emergency alerts (WEA), which will be directed to all consumer cell phones today. Mayfield says the test message will be in either English or Spanish, depending on the language setting on your phone. The second test will be sent to radios and televisions.

Mr. Mayfield says the purpose of today’s test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.