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US Mobile Phone Owners Get Test Text Message From Federal Emergency Management Agency

Duncan 2320 Views 0 Comments ,  ,  1 min read

More than 200 million US mobile phones have received a test “Presidential Alert” text notification. The trial text message is designed to check that a previously unused emergency communications system works properly.

The test text message in the USA was sent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), which would also be in direct control of the system if a real alert was ordered by the US President, Donald Trump.

It is intended to be used to warn of major threats, including:

  • missile attacks
  • acts of terrorism
  • natural disasters
Here’s what you may have seen on TV or heard on the radio: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Emergency Alert System. This system was developed by broadcast and cable operators in voluntary cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local authorities to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency an official message would have followed the tone alert you heard at the start of this message.
A similar wireless emergency alert test message has been sent to all cell phones nationwide. Some cell phones will receive the message; others will not. No action is required.”
The message was also scheduled to appear on some smartwatches connected to cell phones, FEMA said.






Duncan

Duncan is a technology professional with over 20 years experience of working in various IT roles. He has a interest in cyber security, and has a wide range of other skills in radio, electronics and telecommunications.

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