'THIS IS A TEST' to flash across cellphones nationwide during emergency alert test

The federal government is conducting a nationwide emergency alert test on Wednesday afternoon, and cellphone users can expect to receive a message stating, "THIS IS A TEST."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is coordinating with the Federal Communications Commission for the test message which is also expected to be aired on radio and television stations sometime between 2:20 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. ET, according to officials. 

The cellphone message will read: "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed."

The message will also be sent in Spanish to people with phones set to that language. 

The radio and television messages will last for about a minute and state, "This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public," according to The Associated Press.

The emergency alert systems must be tested at least once every three years under federal law, and the last nationwide test was in August 2021. 

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