News/Commentary

John Rich sounds alarm about creepy ‘special sound’ nationwide emergency plan: ‘I don’t like it one bit’

October 3, 2023 | | Print Article

Concern spread leading up to a planned nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System as word of the “unique tone and vibration” got around.

“…I don’t like it one bit.”

Previously announced on Aug. 3, 2023, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued reminders this week that come Wednesday Oct. 4, they would be broadcasting a message on all consumer cell phones.

Marking the third nationwide test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts system, the second on cellular devices, the failing trust in government made the countdown to the alert anxiety inducing for many.

Entertainer and entrepreneur John Rich took to X Monday and used his considerable platform to say, “Oct 4th they’re gonna ring every phone, computer, tv and radio with a ‘special sound’ nationwide for 30 minutes. Don’t know about you, but I don’t like it one bit.”

Image via X

Rich linked to an article from Macworld that specified, “In addition to the message, your iPhone will vibrate and play ‘a special sound that’s similar to an alarm’ even if your iPhone is on silent.”

According to FEMA’s release that did not mention computers in the list of devices that would receive a message, “Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range or an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message.”

The agency specified that the message would read, “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

Discouraging to many who sought a way to avoid being bombarded within the planned 30-minute window was the realization that receipt of the “unique tone and vibration, both repeated twice” could not be turned off in the settings on their smart phone as others contended it remained unclear if shutting down devices would avoid the alert, or simply delay it until they were powered back on.

Of course, true to form in doing little to inspire confidence in the test of the Emergency Alert System, FEMA noted in their release that they may not be able to conduct the planned messaging event if “severe weather” or something else interfered.

“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 agency indicated.

Further confirmed was that a more typical EAS message would be broadcast by “radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers and wireline video providers,” lasting roughly a minute that would state, “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”

Kevin Haggerty
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