Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Graeme Massie

Here’s why some Americans didn’t receive the national emergency alert test

Getty Images/iStockphoto

The federal government has carried out its nationwide emergency alert drill but complaints have poured in from people who say they did not receive it.

A text message was sent to every TV, radio and mobile phone in the US at around 2.20pm ET on Wednesday as the federal government tested its Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts.

The test was carried out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in coordination with the Federal Communication Commission to prepare for any national emergency events that would require it to be sent out.

Before the test, FEMA said that if your phone was on and connected to a wireless provider then it would receive the test message.

There were only three circumstances that would prevent the message from being delivered; The phone was switched off; The phone was on “airplane mode” or the phone was not connected to a cell tower.

Hundreds of millions of US cell phones should have received an alert and text message that reads: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

But people took to social media platforms to complain that they had seemingly been left out.

“I didn’t get the emergency alert FEMA send it again,” wrote one X user.

“I didn’t get the emergency alert does that mean I’m safe from the zombie apocalypse,” wrote another.

And another added: “WHY DIDNT I GET THE EMERGENCY ALERT.......... oh I am so dead when the apocalypse comes.”

“I did not get the emergency alert. If aliens attack, I’ll never know,” posted another user.

“What the hellllll I didn’t get the 5g zombie emergency alert???? ripoff,” joked another.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.