Dear members of the Columbia community:
Beginning at 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 4, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will hold a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts. We are writing to make you aware; no action is needed on your part.
The Wireless Emergency Alerts portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones and will include a notification with a vibration and an alert tone. The message will say “This is a test of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
The Emergency Alert System portion of the test will be sent to radio and televisions and will last for about 60 seconds.
The test will be conducted to ensure that those emergency warning systems continue to be an effective way to warn the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed because of widespread severe weather or other significant events, the backup testing date is Wednesday, Oct. 11. More information about the test is available at the FEMA website.
This test is on the national level and is separate from the Columbia University Emergency Notification system, which is activated during an emergency or dangerous situation on campus. Columbia tests this system twice a year, and as previously communicated, the next test is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 5, the day after the FEMA test.
Emergency Management Operations Team