Nationwide Emergency Alert Test Set for November 17: What to Expect on Your TV and Radio

If you’re watching television or listening to the radio on Tuesday afternoon, November 17, don’t be surprised when your program suddenly stops and an emergency alert appears.

There’s no need to worry. It’s only a test.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), working with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System at approximately 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time on November 17, 2026.

The test will briefly interrupt normal programming on radio and television stations, cable systems, satellite services, and other participating broadcast providers nationwide.

The interruption is expected to last approximately one minute.

The test message will explain that it is a nationwide test and that the public does not need to take any action.

Unlike the nationwide emergency alert test conducted in 2023, this year’s test will not send alerts to cellphones.

What Will Happen During the Test?

At approximately 2:20 p.m., participating television and radio stations will interrupt their regularly scheduled programming.

Viewers may hear the familiar Emergency Alert System tones and see a message displayed across their television screens.

Radio listeners will hear an announcement identifying the alert as a nationwide test.

The message will be distributed in English and Spanish, although the exact presentation may differ depending on the broadcaster and its equipment.

Some television stations may display text while others provide both audio and visual messages.

The actual interruption should last about a minute, after which normal programming will resume.

Although the official test message references a period from 2:20 to 2:50 p.m., that does not mean television and radio programming will be interrupted for 30 minutes.

The brief nationwide test is scheduled to begin at 2:20 p.m.

Why Does FEMA Test the Emergency Alert System?

Most Americans recognize the distinctive tones that accompany emergency broadcasts.

The sounds have been part of the nation’s public warning system for decades, signaling that important information is about to be delivered.

The Emergency Alert System lets government officials communicate critical information during national emergencies.

Authorized state and local agencies can also use it to distribute warnings about dangerous weather, missing children, and other emergencies.

The system involves thousands of independently operated television stations, radio stations, cable companies, and satellite providers.

Because so many organizations and different types of equipment are involved, FEMA must periodically verify that the system works as intended.

Under federal law, FEMA must conduct nationwide public alert and warning tests at least once every three years.

The tests help identify technical problems, communication failures, and other issues that could prevent an emergency message from reaching the public.

FEMA can then work with broadcasters and communications providers to correct those problems before a real emergency occurs.

Why Won’t Cellphones Receive an Alert?

Emergency warnings reach Americans through several different systems.

FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, known as IPAWS, connects authorized emergency officials with multiple public warning methods.

Two of the most familiar are the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts.

The Emergency Alert System, or EAS, delivers warnings through television, radio, cable, and satellite services.

Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEA, send short emergency messages directly to compatible mobile phones in affected geographic areas.

These alerts may cause your phone to produce a loud warning sound and display information about tornadoes, flash floods, AMBER Alerts, and other emergencies.

During the October 4, 2023, nationwide test, FEMA tested both systems. Television and radio programs were interrupted, and many cellphones received a test notification.

This year is different.

The November 17 test will evaluate only the Emergency Alert System.

That means your cellphone should not sound or display a nationwide test alert during this exercise.

However, phones could still receive unrelated alerts if an actual emergency develops in a particular area.

How IPAWS Helps During Real Emergencies

The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System is designed to give emergency officials several ways to reach people quickly.

During severe weather, for example, local authorities may use the system to distribute warnings through participating broadcasters and compatible cellphones.

AMBER Alerts can help notify the public when law enforcement is searching for an abducted child.

Other emergency messages may warn residents to evacuate, seek shelter, avoid dangerous areas, or take immediate protective action.

NOAA Weather Radio provides another way to receive emergency warnings, including severe weather information and certain non-weather emergencies.

These systems matter because people receive information in different ways.

Someone watching television may see an alert on the screen.

A driver listening to the radio may hear an emergency announcement.

A person away from home may receive a warning on a cellphone.

Using multiple warning systems increases the chances that people will receive critical information when every second matters.

Make Sure Your Phone Is Ready for a Real Emergency

Although cellphones will not participate in the November 17 test, FEMA encourages the public to make sure emergency alerts are enabled on their devices.

Most modern smartphones support Wireless Emergency Alerts, but certain alert categories may be controlled through the phone’s settings.

On an iPhone, emergency and government alert options are generally found under Notifications in the Settings app.

On Android phones, these settings vary by manufacturer and software version, but they are commonly found under Safety and Emergency or Wireless Emergency Alerts.

Keeping emergency alerts enabled helps ensure important warnings reach you during dangerous weather or other emergencies.

FEMA also encourages families to have more than one way to receive emergency information rather than depending entirely on one device.

What If There Is a Real Emergency on November 17?

FEMA and the FCC have established a backup date in case the nationwide test cannot proceed as planned.

If severe weather, a major emergency, or another significant event interferes with the November 17 schedule, the test may be postponed until Thursday, December 3, 2026.

Federal officials would announce that decision.

The test itself does not require people to take any action, and the Emergency Alert System does not collect personal information from viewers or listeners.

One Minute That Could Matter Later

For most Americans, the November 17 test will be little more than a brief interruption to an afternoon television or radio program.

But behind that one-minute message is an emergency communications network designed to reach millions of people when disaster strikes.

A warning delivered quickly can give families time to take shelter before a tornado, move away from rising floodwaters, or respond to another immediate threat.

Testing that network helps ensure the warning will be there when people need it.

So when the familiar emergency tones sound at 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17, there’s no need to panic or call 911.

It’s simply FEMA checking the system.

And during a real emergency, a warning that reaches people just a few seconds sooner could make all the difference.

For additional information about the Emergency Alert System and FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, visit FEMA.gov.