FEMA - Emergency Broadcast System Test - October 4th

[tvguy]

For sure. How about the DEW Line?

Not in my life experience.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Not in my life experience.

You're too young.

https://www.nga.mil/history/The_DEW_Line-Cold_War_Defense_at_the_Top_of_the_Wo.html

https://dewlinemuseum.com/

 

[tvguy]

You're too young.

https://www.nga.mil/history/The_DEW_Line-Cold_War_Defense_at_the_Top_of_the_Wo.html

https://dewlinemuseum.com/

I grew up with the nuclear drills in school. Which were totally a waste of time.
My school was 7 miles from Mather Air Force Base.
My school was 6 miles from McClellan Air Force Base.
My school was 5 miles from the Sacramento Army Depot
My school was 48 miles from Beale Air Force Base
My school was 47 miles from Travis Air Force Base
My school was 65 miles from Sharpe Army Depot
My school was 60 miles from the Rough and Ready Naval Depot
(how this many critical military installations were located so close together is beyond me)


Classified Soviet documents made public a few years ago confirmed, the Sacramento area would have been one of the first targets in event of a nuclear war. We would have been vaporized, no need to hide under our desks.

Classified U.S. documents made public show how close JFK came to starting a world war during the Bay of Pigs.

My parents kept a weeks supply of canned food and water in the trunks of both cars, and they had a plan to meet in Reno in case of an attack.

Not sure many younger folks realize how close they cam to never being born.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Not sure many younger folks realize how close they cam to never being born

We were close a number of times back in those days.

 

[sam_gordon]

Don't know

OK, first, there have been National EAS tests issued since 2011. It's been held repeatedly (annually?) since then. They have since added cell phones to the receiving devices. This is nothing new.

Second, let's say, just for the sake of argument, that there is something nefarious this time. They're (they folks who have this "power") going to blow up all phones, they're going to steal all of your logins, they're going to "activate the chips from the Covid vaccine", turn everyone into zombies, pick whatever your heart desires that's scaring you. Think about it... if they have the power to do any of that, why would they publicize the exact time they're going to do it? Why wouldn't they just "do the deed" with no warning?

Obviously it's your choice. If you want to give up the benefits of a cell phone for an entire day, for who knows why, that's up to you. I just don't see the logic in it.

 

[Kennywood]

Just a reminder that this will happen tomorrow.

 

[Mle8308]

The one concern is for victims of domestic violence who may have a secret cell phone used to assist in getting help or planning an exit strategy (from the relationship, not some conspiracy theory). If the cell goes off, the other person could be made aware. Or if someone has a special secret cell phone they are keeping from someone else for other reasons... I believe the only way to not get the alert - aside from a Faraday cage, is to remove the phone battery (if you can) or have it completely dead. I don't think opting out will work.

 

[kymom99]

I think it says if not in airplane mode.

And yes, I have one friend who made reference to this being troubling. Whatever. I think sometimes that some people want bad things to happen so they can be right.

 

[Mle8308]

I think it says if not in airplane mode.

And yes, I have one friend who made reference to this being troubling. Whatever. I think sometimes that some people want bad things to happen so they can be right.

Whatever??? You might not say that if you were in a DV situation.

 

[leahgoogle]

The one concern is for victims of domestic violence who may have a secret cell phone used to assist in getting help or planning an exit strategy (from the relationship, not some conspiracy theory). If the cell goes off, the other person could be made aware. Or if someone has a special secret cell phone they are keeping from someone else for other reasons... I believe the only way to not get the alert - aside from a Faraday cage, is to remove the phone battery (if you can) or have it completely dead. I don't think opting out will work.

I did read that you have to run the battery completely dead or take it out. Opting out another way is not an option.

 

[kdonnel]

I did read that you have to run the battery completely dead or take it out. Opting out another way is not an option.

You just have to turn your phone off if you don’t want the message. Nothing more complicated than off.

 

[leahgoogle]

You just have to turn your phone off if you don’t want the message. Nothing more complicated than off.

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[kymom99]

Whatever??? You might not say that if you were in a DV situation.

I’m talking about the conspiracy theory stuff

 

[NotUrsula]

Wouldn't putting the ringer on silent and turning off vibrate keep someone from hearing it? The message still comes in, but it just isn't audible.

I would think that if you are keeping a hidden phone for some reason, you would pretty much always keep it on silent so that it doesn't accidentally ring if someone mis-dials or the number is generated by a robo-call list.

 

[Marrila]

Wouldn't putting the ringer on silent and turning off vibrate keep someone from hearing it? The message still comes in, but it just isn't audible.

I would think that if you are keeping a hidden phone for some reason, you would pretty much always keep it on silent so that it doesn't accidentally ring if someone mis-dials or the number is generated by a robo-call list.

Not necessarily.
I keep my phone like that all the time (not a fan of extra noise) but I still get a few vibrate emergency alerts for things like tornado warning or amber alert in our area.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

I believe the only way to not get the alert - aside from a Faraday cage, is to remove the phone battery (if you can) or have it completely dead. I don't think opting out will work.

No, because when you replace the battery to start using the phone, the broadcast will come through, just delayed. The only thing to do is to remove the battery, smash the phone to pieces, bury the pieces at least 2 feet deep, and purchase a new phone that has a manufacturer date after the October 4th date. Also stay away from anyone that doesn't follow this procedure and keeps their existing phone, as it will now have the emergency broadcast virus which will infect your new phone.

 

[sam_gordon]

No, because when you replace the battery to start using the phone, the broadcast will come through, just delayed. The only thing to do is to remove the battery, smash the phone to pieces, bury the pieces at least 2 feet deep, and purchase a new phone that has a manufacturer date after the October 4th date. Also stay away from anyone that doesn't follow this procedure and keeps their existing phone, as it will now have the emergency broadcast virus which will infect your new phone.

I almost fell for this after reading the first line.

 

[luv2cheer92]

It blows my mind that there are people worried about this, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised considering some of the insane conspiracy theories some of the same people believe.

A similar national alert test went off on everyone's phones when I was in Germany a few weeks ago.

 

[kdonnel]

Unless they are testing a Presidential alert, at least on an iPhone, you can turn off the alerts if you don't want your phone to display the alert or make the sound.

Go to settings / Notifications and scroll all the way to the bottom.

Turn off AMBER alerts, Emergency Alerts, Public Safety Alerts, and Test Alerts.
For Emergency Alerts, you can have the setting on and turn off Always Play Sound if you want to get the visual alert but not the sound alert.

Android must also have similar options.

iPhone's do not allow you to turn off Presidential alerts.

If your phone does not have these options, then that probably means your phone is not WEA capable and will not receive the alert.

 

[PezRuth]

The one concern is for victims of domestic violence who may have a secret cell phone used to assist in getting help or planning an exit strategy (from the relationship, not some conspiracy theory). If the cell goes off, the other person could be made aware. Or if someone has a special secret cell phone they are keeping from someone else for other reasons... I believe the only way to not get the alert - aside from a Faraday cage, is to remove the phone battery (if you can) or have it completely dead. I don't think opting out will work.

I agree this is the only real concern.