'PRESIDENTIAL ALERT' TEST MESSAGE WILL GO OUT TO CELL PHONES TODAY
Most people's cellphones in the U.S. will go off at 1:18 p.m. Central today with an emergency alert test by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
A tone similar to that of an Amber Alert will be heard and the message will read: "Presidential Alert" with text that says: "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed." This will be the first test of the national wireless emergency system by FEMA, and is for a high-level "presidential" alert that would be used only in a nationwide emergency.
Phones with mobile carriers that participate in the wireless emergency alert system will get the alert, with FEMA estimating it will reach about 75 percent of all cellphones in the country.
Users can't opt out of the presidential alert messages, which are issued at the direction of the White House.
(Pulse Networks)