The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) along with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have scheduled a test of the nationwide Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts for 2:20 p.m. eastern time today, Oct. 4.

“The purpose of this test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level,” FEMA said in a Tuesday press release. “In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed, due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11.”

The Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) portion of the test will go out to all consumer WEA-compatible cell phones at the appointed time. Beginning at 2:20 p.m. cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. The test message will be displayed in either English or Spanish depending on the phone’s language settings. All phones should receive the message only once, according to FEMA.

“During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and in a geographic area where the wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message,” FEMA said.

The message will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

The test will appear similar to an Amber Alert, playing an alert tone likely until the user presses a button or unlocks their device.

Phones powered down during the 30-minute window “should not” receive the test message, FEMA said.

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) portion of the test will be broadcast out to radios and televisions. It is scheduled to last approximately one minute in conjunction with participating radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio, television providers, and wireline video providers. The EAS test will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public should be familiar.