Federal emergency officials are scheduled to conduct a nationwide test of the U.S. Emergency Alert System (EAS) and will assess the delivery of such alerts to wireless customers for the first time ever.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will test both the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) at 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday, August 11.

These emergency alert systems are the two main components of the country’s public warning system, maintained by FEMA, the FCC and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service.

The EAS is commonly used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information such as weather and AMBER alerts. They are sent out by radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers. Participants also are required to provide the capability for the President of the United States to address the public during a national emergency.

The WEA sends critical warnings and information to the public on their mobile phones, which will appear like a text message.