Village Of Ruidoso To Participate In Nationwide Test Of Emergency Alert System
October 3, 2023 – RUIDOSO, NM - Ruidoso Office of Emergency Management, in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), will take part in the nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system this fall.
The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 12:20 PM MDT on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.
The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test for all cellular devices. The test message will display in either English or Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless headset.
The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.
The purpose of the October 4 test is to ensure the system continues to be an effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. In case the October 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the backup testing date is October 11, 2023.
All wireless phones should receive the message only once, and this is what to expect:
• Beginning at approximately 12:20 PM EDT, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message.
• For customers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No Action is needed”
