NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Don't be alarmed if you see or hear an emergency alert Wednesday afternoon.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be conducting a nationwide test of its emergency alert system at 2:20 p.m.
It will be broadcast on all television and radio stations, including WCBS Newsradio 880.
The message, which is about a minute long, will state, “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. No action is required.”
This will be the sixth nationwide test of the emergency alert system.
FEMA will also be testing its wireless emergency alerts.
Those who have opted-in to receive text messages on their cellphones will get the alert, which will read, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
The alert will be sent in either English or Spanish, depending on the language settings of a user's device.
"FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and to maximize the public safety value of the test," the agency said. "The test is intended to ensure public safety officials have the methods and systems that will deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public in times of an emergency or disaster."
If test is canceled due to severe weather or other unforeseen events, the test will be moved to Aug. 25.
Learn more about the test here.