Emergency alert test won't happen Thursday, expect it next month instead

A nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts system, originally scheduled to take place on Thursday has been delayed until Oct. 3.

According to FEMA, the reschedule was necessary due to ongoing response efforts to Hurricane Florence.

Alaska will take part in the nationwide test on Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 10:18 a.m. according to Jeremy Zidek with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

The test itself will include text stating, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

Oct. 3 will be the first time a nation-wide WEA alert has been issued to cell phones, according to Zidek.

After the alert, The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management wants Alaskans to weigh in on how they thought the test went, by completing a survey that will be found on the state's website.

DHS&EM operations chief Bryan Fisher said that Alaska feedback is important as communications in the state differ from the Lower 48.