FEMA delays presidential alert test amid Florence response

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is delaying a test of a new national alert that was scheduled for this week due to the impact of Hurricane Florence on the East Coast.

The test will now take place on Oct. 3 at 2:18 p.m. EDT. It will try out a new nationwide presidential alert that’s intended for national emergencies.

The test was originally planned for Thursday at 2:18 p.m. EDT.

{mosads}During the test, most cellphone users will receive an alert with the same vibration and tone as any other wireless emergency alert.

Due to severe weather across much of the East Coast and ongoing response efforts, the national emergency alert test has been postponed to the backup date of Oct. 3, 2018 at 2:18 PM EDT.

If you have questions about the test, visit the FAQ at https://t.co/Op8T9AEpiF. pic.twitter.com/S9RYxyfdiv

— FEMA (@fema) September 17, 2018

The test message will have a header of “Presidential Alert” and will read, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

Users will not be able to opt out of the test.