Wireless Emergency Alert Testing

McPherson County Emergency Management will conduct a live test of the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system on Monday, November 16, at 10:00 a.m. Expect your cell phone to sound an alert and/or vibrate.

Wireless Emergency Alerts are an important public safety tool that allows emergency officials to send geographically targeted emergency messages directly to compatible cell phones in affected areas. These alerts are similar to AMBER Alerts and are designed to quickly notify residents of serious or potentially life-threatening emergencies.

McPherson County may use this system to notify the public of emergencies such as:

* Evacuations: Emergency evacuation notices, instructions, and routes.

* Severe Weather and Natural Disasters: Extraordinary severe weather, disasters, or other dangerous conditions.

* Public Safety Threats: Confirmed criminal activity, manhunts, or other threats to public safety.

* Missing Persons: Critical missing-person emergencies that meet alerting criteria.

* Fires: Wildfires or other fires posing an immediate danger to residents or businesses.

* Hazardous Materials: Chemical spills, releases, or other hazardous material incidents that could threaten public safety.

What to Expect During the Test

On Monday, November 16, at 10:00 a.m., compatible mobile devices within the designated test area may receive a test message accompanied by a distinctive alert sound or vibration. The alerts may override silent mode on some devices and carriers.

This is only a test. There is no emergency, and no action is required.

Regular testing helps McPherson County Emergency Management evaluate our ability to quickly communicate critical information to the public when emergencies occur.

Please help us spread the word! Share this information with family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and others throughout McPherson County so they know what to expect.

For questions or additional information, please contact McPherson County Emergency Management at (620) 245-1265.