Here's how to block the emergency alert test. Hint: It's not in your settings

How to block the emergency alert test

The cellular broadcast system will send out emergency alerts starting at 2:20 p.m. ET for a duration of 30 minutes. During this time, all WEA-compatible wireless cellphones should receive the alert.

To avoid the alert, you can:

Turn off your cellphone.
Put your phone on airplane mode.
Use WiFi only.

According to FEMA, cellphones that are turned off for the entire 30-minute test period should not receive the alert message once it’s turned back on.

Your cellphone may not receive the alert if you are outside active cell tower range or if your wireless provider does not participate in WEA.

Some cellphone settings include options to turn off emergency alerts. Opting out of these alerts will not silence Wednesday’s national test, FEMA says.

How to block emergency alerts on iPhone

If you’d like to silence future emergency and severe weather alerts, here’s how to opt out of them on an iPhone:

Go to Settings > Notifications.
Scroll to the bottom of the screen.
Amber Alerts, emergency alerts, public safety alerts and test alerts are listed under government alerts.
Turn the alerts you’d like off by switching the slider from green to grey.

You can also turn alert sounds off by selecting emergency alerts.

How to block emergency alerts on Android

Settings vary by phone. Here’s what the Android website says about turning off emergency alerts:

Open the Settings app.
Select Notifications > Wireless emergency alerts.
Choose how often you want to receive these alerts and customize your settings.

When was the last FEMA nationwide test?

FEMA is required to test its Integrated Public Alert and Warning System at least once every three years, including WEA, EAS and other alerts. The last national test was in 2021.