Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test set for Nov. 17

Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test set for Nov. 17

Published on November 10, 2026

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System at approximately 1:20 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17.

FEMA is required by law to conduct a nationwide test of the public alert and warning system at least once every three years. The Emergency Alert System is a national public warning system made up of thousands of radio, television, cable, satellite and wireline broadband providers. These tests allow FEMA to identify technical or operational issues before the system is needed during an actual emergency.

What to expect

On Nov. 17, radio and television broadcasters nationwide will interrupt normal programming to relay a test message.

• The test message will state, "This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This is only a test. No action is required by the public."
• The test message will include standard EAS alert tones to support accessibility for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Broadcasters may broadcast the message in English, Spanish or both, depending on station practices and audience needs.

The test will last approximately one minute. When the test has concluded, normal programming will resume.

No action is required by the public.

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