At approximately 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 3, FEMA will conduct the first-ever nationwide test of the Wireless Emergency Alert and Emergency Alert System.

This means that all cell phones that are turned on, within range of a tower, and whose carrier participates in WEA will make a loud buzz and tone and receive a test message.

The message will also be sent to all TV and radio stations across the USA.

Please help spread the word that this is happening.

In the islands, we’d use WEA as one tool of many to help spread the word about an impending urgent emergency. We would NOT use it for a forecast storm, a small scale emergency, or something that is not time sensitive.

One of the best uses of WEA is for tsunami warnings, but remember that in the islands our very best tsunami warning system is that we’ll feel a very large earthquake and then know that we should head to high ground, at least 25 feet above sea level.