US Authorities insist,Say Nothing to Fear from Test of National Emergency System

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The U.S. government says Americans should not panic when their cellphones simultaneously sound an alarm on Wednesday as the federal government tests, for the first time, its presidential wireless emergency alert system.

Authorities are assuring the public in advance this is only a test, but in a real national emergency — such as the detection of an incoming ballistic missile, a coordinated terrorist attack or even a cataclysmic volcanic eruption — the same tone would be heard.

Those with their mobile devices switched on at 2:18 p.m. EDT (18:18 GMT) will hear a unique loud tone while the device simultaneously vibrates. A message box will pop up on screens, informing: "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed."

Two minutes later, those watching broadcast and cable television or listening to AM and FM radio stations will also likely see or hear a similar alert, interrupting programming for about 1 minute, as part of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) combined national test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and Emergency Alert System.

The exercise had been scheduled for Sept. 20, but was delayed until Oct. 3 due to the impact of Hurricane Florence in North and South Carolina.