FEMA emergency alert test ‘alarms’ USC students

A pre-announced test from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that went out to cell phones in the U.S. on Wednesday came about two minutes earlier than scheduled, and the mass of beeping phones left some USC students “caught off guard.”

FEMA and FCC announced they would conduct a nationwide emergency alert test at 2:20 p.m. EDT on Oct. 4 to ensure that the national alert system is still an effective means of warning Americans about emergencies at the national level.

The loud alarming sound that alerted all TVs, Radios and Cell Phones was attached to a note stating, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. The purpose is to maintain and improve alert and warning capabilities at the federal, state, local, tribal and territorial levels and to evaluate the nation’s public alert and warning capabilities. No action is required by the public.”

Faith Snyder, a sophomore studying international relations and global business, said, “It was just a jumpscare how everyone’s phone went off at the same time.”

According to the FEMA Fact Sheet, legislation passed in 2015 requires FEMA to test the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) every 3 years. The last test took place in 2021.

Some were confused about why the nationwide test took place. Mahdiya Vasam, a freshman studying anthropology, said she had heard about it beforehand. “Actually my brother sent a text this morning, just so we would know. I didn’t know why they were doing it, but I think they said it in the alert,” she said.

All U.S. mobile phones within range of an active cell tower, and on a network where WEA is supported, received the nationwide test. Mobile phones received the test alert even if they were on silent or airplane mode. Recent models of mobile phones have included a setting to opt out of tests and alerts. However, none of those settings affected the 2023 nationwide test. The only way a mobile phone would not receive the test would be if the device was powered off.

Any radio or TV that was tuned to a broadcast station, a satellite radio or TV service, or cable or wireless TV received the nationwide test from the Emergency Alert System as well.

However, the nationwide test alert went off two minutes before it was scheduled to, alarming people with the unexpected loud noise. ‘X’ formerly known as ‘Twitter’, immediately filled with Twitter users talking about the test. Their tweets ranged from people making sure they weren’t the only ones receiving the nationwide test two minutes early, to people joking about how the loud noise scared them.

As the alarming sounds blazed through the already loud and buzzing campus of USC, students had mixed reactions and opinions about it.

Sophia Joseph, a sophomore studying psychology, said, “I was in class and everyone’s phone went off at the same time, and I immediately assumed it was the fire alarm. I obviously quickly realized it wasn’t but the emergency alert definitely took me by surprise.”

Some USC students were alarmed by the noise, despite knowing the alarming sound was going to take place. Lauren Grauer, a senior studying the music industry, said she was “startled at first” " but knew it was coming because of posts she saw on TikTok. Snyder said her first reaction was “definitely fear” until she remembered her friend had sent her an announcement about it prior to the nationwide test.

There were also certain theories and conspiracies about the government’s intention behind the alert, said students.

“I saw some stuff online about the comparison of conspiracy theories surrounding it,” said Michael Solomon, a senior studying history and international relations “I thought it was funny. People think that the alert system is going to activate a virus in you or something like that and it will turn people into zombies.”

Honey Robinson, a sophomore theater major said “I’ve heard a lot of perspectives from people I know who have expressed distrust of this alert system, so I’m still deciding how I feel about it.”

However, some students believe that nationwide tests are beneficial to the nation.

Especially “considering how many more climate disasters we’re gonna be susceptible to in the coming decades,” said Solomon. “I have family in Hawaii where tsunami alert systems are really crucial to day-to-day life, and people’s livelihoods are at stake in a lot of places. So having this kind of infrastructure is important.”

Synder said she thought the purpose behind this alert was “definitely to regain some public trust after the disaster at Lahaina,” and believed that the government wanted to “let us know that alerts still work and that we’re safe.”

Joshua Rosado, a sophomore studying business administration, said he believed they were beneficial to a “mild extent.”

“I’m not always up to date with the weather so the alerts help for when the weather is of concern,” he said. “Apart from that, I don’t think they are necessarily that beneficial in keeping the public informed.”

Students believed that alerting people through their mobile devices would be an effective way to communicate a national emergency. Prithika Kulkarni, a sophomore studying economics, said “Everyone owns a phone; they’re probably the quickest way to get to the public during the time of an emergency”

Joseph added, “For many people, their phones are their lifelines, so it is smart to have the alert on everyone’s phone.”

Priyanka Sonie, a graduate student from the science department, reflected on how the emergency alert benefited her on Aug. 20, for the earthquake in L.A. She said she and her flatmates were “able to react because of the push alert.”