The emergency alert system will be tested today - how do these alerts play a role during impactful weather?

Today’s the day that every TV, phone, and radio across the nation will sound the alarm as a test of the emergency alert system is conducted by FEMA in coordination with the FCC.

The alerts sent out will include a test of the Emergency Alert System - or EAS - which will include radios and TV’s, and the Wireless Emergency Alerts - or WEA - which will be sent to all cell phones.

Both tests will be sent out at 2:20 PM EDT or 1:20 PM CDT. The important thing to know about these tests is that no action is needed. It’s just a way for FEMA and the FCC to test the capabilities of the alert system should it be needed in case of a widespread emergency.

Let’s focus on WEA alerts - the ones that are sent to your phone.

There are 3 types of alerts that can come through as a wireless emergency alert: presidential alerts, amber alerts, and imminent threat alerts, which are typically issued by the National Weather Service.

Although these can be helpful in the event of a tornado warning, flash flood warning, or extreme wind warning, they don’t notify you of many other types of impactful weather. WEA messages will *not* notify you of watches, advisories, hail, dense fog, winter alerts, and many other types of relevant weather.

To fill in these gaps, it’s important to make sure that you have multiple ways of receiving local weather information - the WEA system is great, but it doesn’t give you the full picture.

To get all types of weather alerts in one place, make sure to download the ABC57 First Warning Neighborhood Weather Mobile App. You will also have access to live radar, the latest run of forecast track, and additional weather information uploaded daily by the ABC57 Weather Team.

You can get it for free right now on the Apple Store and on Google Play.