There will be a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency alerts later this week. FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct the nationwide test of the EAS and WEA at 2:20pm on Wednesday for about 30 minutes. The WEA portion will be directed to all consumer cell phones in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset. The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. The test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11.