The ‘Presidential Alert’ Test Is Going Down Today

Today is the day. Millions of people across the country will get a “presidential alert” notification around 2:18 p.m. ET. It will read, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

Happening TODAY @ 2:18 PM EDT

Phones will display this national test using the header “Presidential Alert.” These nationwide alerts are meant for use in a national emergency and are the only type of alert that can be sent simultaneously nationwide by @fema. https://t.co/689ULqBwaZ

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) October 3, 2018

Today, nearly every smartphone user in America will receive a test of FEMA’s first-ever “presidential alert.” Here’s what you need to know. #OrangeRoom pic.twitter.com/0db8WNBPn9

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 3, 2018

PUT TO THE TEST: Millions of Americans will receive a text alert from Pres. Donald J. Trump tomorrow starting at 2:18 pm Eastern as a new system that allows the president to send public safety and crisis alerts is put to the test. @DavidMuir reports. https://t.co/bHRBLGAbPL pic.twitter.com/M9z6pBaZap

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) October 3, 2018

The alert test, which is FEMA’s first for the wireless emergency system — and is being coordinated with the Federal Communications Commission — will sound similar to an Amber Alert or flood watch warning.

The alert will appear as long as the device is on, and may also show up on smartwatches, according to officials.

As far as I know, there’s no opting out of this alert. FEMA says about “75 percent of all mobile phones” in the country will receive the alert. Almost everyone’s going to get it, so just be aware and don’t freak out.

A lot of people are freaking out and acting like Trump’s going to use this as a way to send tweet-like messages to everyone’s phone. Not so.

Rules outlined in a 2006 law states that the White House can issue a presidential alert only if the public were in peril, or during national emergencies. The alert cannot be a personal message on behalf of the president.

The wireless alert system launched in 2012.

This wasn’t some crazy thing Trump created.

*throws phone into the river* #PresidentialAlert pic.twitter.com/FCqRw823K6

— Jeremiah Graves (@jeremiahgraves) October 3, 2018

#TrumpTheFakeNewsFounder

How do I "Opt-Out"?

If a National Emergency Alert comes from you, everyone will think that it is Fake News and ignore it.

We would need the Alert to come from someone with some credibility. #VoteNoOnKavanaugh #DumpTheDrunk

— Dennis R. Hill (@dennis0805a) October 3, 2018

This is the only FEMA alert that I want to see. #GOTV #TheLastWeekend #TakeItBack #WednesdayWisdom #WednesdayMotivation pic.twitter.com/J8ys4EIRLJ

— Holly Figueroa O'Reilly 📢 (@AynRandPaulRyan) October 3, 2018

Dear FEMA, I am on the National no-call list, so please don’t send me President Trump’s spam texts.

— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) October 3, 2018

2:18 p.m. ET. Don’t forget it.

h/t Fox News