what is the emergency alert test for today

On October 4, 2023, the federal government conducted a nationwide test of the emergency alert system via mobile phones, cable TV, and radios. The test was conducted to ensure that the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) are effective in alerting the public about emergencies, especially national ones. The test messages were sent to all cellphones, televisions, and radios, and the alert was scheduled for the same time across the country, which was 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time. The alert message read: "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed". The alert was in English or Spanish, depending on the phones set language, and was accompanied by a unique tone and vibration to make it as accessible as possible. The test lasted for 30 minutes, but people should have only received the message once. If an actual emergency had happened that day, the test could have been postponed, and a backup test was scheduled for the following week.