Why everyone’s cellphone will sound an alert Wednesday

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission will be conducting a nationwide test Wednesday afternoon of the national public alert and warning system — meaning cellphones will receive a notification.

The notifications will come between 1:20 and 1:50 p.m. Iowa time and will state, “This is a test of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed,” according to the FEMA website.

All major U.S. wireless providers participate in the emergency alerts and will transmit the national test to their subscribers. Any cellphone that is turned on and within range of a cell tower at the time will receive the alert.

The Integrated Public Alert & Warning System is the system used to send out emergency alerts across the country, and usually is used on a more local scale for alerts about extreme weather or other emergencies.

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