2026 Nationwide FEMA EAS Test – What You Need To Do?

No public action is required.

The 2026 Nationwide FEMA Emergency Alert System (EAS) test is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at approximately 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time (11:20 a.m. Pacific Time).

What will happen

Radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio/TV providers, and wireline video providers across the United States will briefly interrupt regular programming to air a test message. The message (in English and/or Spanish) will say something very close to:

“This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 2:20 to 2:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”

You will hear the familiar EAS attention tones (the dual-tone alert sound). The test is expected to last about one minute, after which normal programming resumes.

Key points for the public

• This is only a test — it is not a real emergency.
• No action is needed. You do not need to call anyone, leave your home, or take any protective steps.
• No Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) will be sent to cell phones for this test (unlike the 2023 combined test). This year’s test focuses only on the traditional EAS (broadcast/cable/satellite).
• If a real emergency or significant weather event occurs on November 17, FEMA and the FCC may postpone the test. The backup date is December 3, 2026.

Why this test happens

FEMA is required by law (IPAWS Modernization Act) to conduct nationwide tests of public alert and warning systems at least once every three years. These tests help identify technical or operational issues before a real emergency. The last nationwide EAS test was in 2023.

EAS testing protocols are defined primarily in FCC rules under 47 CFR § 11.61 (Tests of EAS procedures). These govern how Emergency Alert System (EAS) Participants—broadcasters, cable systems, satellite providers, and certain other entities—must regularly test the system to ensure readiness.

There are three main tiers of required tests:

Required Weekly Tests (RWT)

• What it includes: EAS Header Codes + End of Message (EOM) codes only.
• No Attention Signal (the dual-tone alert) or spoken test script is required.
• Frequency: At least once per week, on random days and times.
• Who originates: The EAS Participant itself (stations typically generate their own).
• Notes:
  • Not required during the week a monthly test is conducted.
  • Digital and TV stations must test on all program streams (where applicable).
  • Larger cable systems (5,000+ subscribers) must test on all programmed channels.
  • Duration is typically very short (~10 seconds or less).

Required Monthly Tests (RMT)

• What it includes (full sequence):
  1. EAS Header Codes
  2. Attention Signal (simultaneous 853 Hz + 960 Hz tones, at least 8 seconds)
  3. Test script (audio message)
  4. EOM codes
• Timing windows (set by FCC rules):
  • Odd-numbered months (Jan, Mar, May, etc.): Between 8:30 a.m. and local sunset.
  • Even-numbered months (Feb, Apr, Jun, etc.): Between local sunset and 8:30 a.m.
• Origination: Local or State Primary sources (coordinated via State Emergency Communications Committees).
• Retransmission rule: EAS Participants must retransmit the RMT within 60 minutes of receipt.
• Script: Developed at the state level; may be in the primary language of the participant.
• Special cases: Certain stations (e.g., Class D non-commercial educational FM, LPFM, LPTV) may only be required to transmit the test script.

Nationwide / National Periodic Tests (NPT)

• Event code: NPT (Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System).
• Who participates: All EAS Participants must relay the message.
• How it works: FEMA originates the test via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message. It is then converted and relayed through the traditional EAS chain.
• Content: Full sequence (Header + Attention Signal + Test Script + EOM), typically stating that it is a test and that no public action is required.
• Notice: FCC provides at least two months’ advance notice.
• Effect on other tests: A national test replaces the required weekly and monthly tests for the week and month in which it occurs.
• Reporting: Participants must file results through the FCC’s EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS)—Form One (annual identification), Form Two (day-of results, typically within 48 hours), and Form Three (detailed post-test data within 45 days).

Additional Protocol Details

• EAS Message Structure (standard four-part protocol):
  1. Preamble + EAS Header Codes
  2. Attention Signal
  3. Audio/video/text message
  4. Preamble + EOM Codes
• Monitoring: Participants must monitor assigned sources (including polling IPAWS for CAP-formatted alerts) and be able to receive/decode both traditional EAS Protocol and CAP messages.
• Logging: All tests and activations must be logged.
• IPAWS Internal Tests: FEMA also sends non-disruptive, log-only Required Weekly Test messages via CAP every Monday at 11 a.m. local time in each time zone. These help participants verify CAP connectivity without interrupting programming.

For the Public

Weekly and monthly tests are routine and usually brief. You may hear the tones and a short announcement on radio or TV. National tests (like the one scheduled for November 17, 2026) are announced in advance, last about a minute, and explicitly state that no action is required.

These protocols ensure the system can deliver life-saving alerts (from the President via Emergency Action Notification, weather warnings, AMBER alerts, etc.) when needed. Non-compliance by participants can result in FCC enforcement actions.

Bottom line

If you hear or see the alert on TV or radio on November 17 around 2:20 p.m. ET, simply wait for it to end. It is a planned, routine system check. No response or action is required from the public.

As Always, Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

You play a critical role in your preparedness. By preparing yourself for the unexpected, you will become more self-reliant and a valuable asset to your community