what is the alarm on october 4th for

On October 4th, 2023, at 2:20 p.m. ET / 1:20 CT / 11:20 PT, a nationwide emergency alert test was conducted in the United States to ensure that the countrys mass communication services are in working order. The test was designed to evaluate the technological capabilities of the national alert system to reach and inform as many people as possible in case of a widespread emergency. The test message was sent to all TVs, radios, and cell phones, and the alert tone was similar to that of an Amber Alert. The message that appeared on phones read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed” . The test lasted for approximately 30 minutes, during which all Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA)-compatible wireless phones that were switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and in a geographic area where the wireless provider participated in WEA, were capable of receiving the test message.