Texas residents across the state should expect buzzing phones, blaring sirens, and other emergency notifications Thursday morning — but there's no need to panic. It's all part of a planned, statewide system test.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) is conducting a statewide test of local alerting systems today, April 2, 2026, to evaluate the effectiveness and functionality of public warning tools. The test window runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Residents who have signed up for emergency alerts may receive test messages on their mobile devices, and outdoor warning sirens may sound during the testing window. Officials are urging the public not to call 911 if they receive a test notification. No action is required.
According to a City of Dallas news release, the test will include alerts sent to cell phones, outdoor warning sirens and other notification systems. Some residents may receive more than one alert as part of the coordinated effort.
TDEM Chief Nim Kidd said regular testing of public warning systems is a critical component of community safety, adding that conducting drills helps reaffirm procedures, build confidence in technology, and identify potential shortfalls before a real disaster strikes.
TDEM has requested participation from a broad range of entities, including local emergency management programs, school districts, colleges and universities, councils of government, river authorities, sovereign tribal nations, law enforcement agencies, and other organizations with emergency alerting capability.
Dallas residents got an early heads-up. Travis Houston, deputy director of Dallas' Office of Emergency Management and Crisis Response, noted that Dallas tested its siren system Wednesday — as it does every first Wednesday of the month — and said some Dallas residents may still hear sirens from neighboring jurisdictions during Thursday's statewide test window.
Houston also noted that if severe weather develops near test time, some cities may opt to cancel their portion of the test to avoid confusing residents. Storms are in the forecast for parts of North Texas this week.
After the drill, participating organizations will be required to submit a summary of results, key takeaways, and details about local system performance to state emergency management officials.
Residents who have not yet signed up for local emergency alerts are encouraged to do so through their city or county's notification system to ensure they receive warnings during real emergencies.
Residents who have signed up for emergency alerts may receive test messages on their mobile devices
