"Federal Officials Schedule Nationwide Emergency Alert Test"

Federal officials have scheduled a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts for November 17, 2026, at approximately 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission. The test will send messages to televisions, radios and cellphones across the United States, with a backup date of December 3, 2026, the agencies announced in a public notice released September 16.

The test is intended to verify the national alert infrastructure and will reach most Americans, officials said. The upcoming exercise follows that statutory schedule and is part of routine readiness checks.

According to officials, no action is required from the public when the test message is received. The agencies said the test will be clearly identified as a drill and does not indicate an actual emergency. Local emergency authorities will provide additional information about the test schedule and any regional variations.