FCC Report on 2018 Nationwide Emergency Alert Test

On Oct 3, 2018, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission and the National Weather Service, conducted a nationwide test of both Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The nationwide test demonstrated that WEA is an effective alerting tool to rapidly disseminate emergency information to the public. Based on survey data shared with the Commission, most people reported successful receipt of the WEA test message, with several news reports noting the success of the nationwide test to reach the public. The test also highlighted areas where WEA delivery can be improved, such as ensuring more consistent delivery, reducing duplicate messages, and resolving issues concerning alert message audio tone and vibration cadence.