The Hays County Office of Emergency Services will conduct a coordinated test of both the Emergency Alert System and the Wireless Emergency Alerts system on Monday, August 4, at approximately 3:30 p.m. across the entire county.
The test is part of the county’s ongoing commitment to confirm that public warning systems are fully operational and capable of quickly delivering critical information to the public in the event of an emergency.
The Emergency Alert System is a national public warning tool that allows federal, state and local authorities to interrupt radio, television and cable broadcasts with important emergency information.
The Wireless Emergency Alerts system allows authorized agencies to send short emergency messages directly to cell phones in targeted geographic areas. The alerts will appear on devices similar to a text message, accompanied by a distinct tone and vibration.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., a test message will be broadcast via radio, television and cable outlets through the Emergency Alert System.
Simultaneously, a Wireless Emergency Alert test message will be sent to compatible mobile phones in the county. The messages will clearly state that they are part of a test and that no action is required from the public.
“Emergency alerts save lives. By testing both WEA and EAS together, we ensure that our alerting systems are reliable, effective and ready for use when the public needs them most,” said Mike Jones, Director of Hays County Office of Emergency Services.
These tests are essential for verifying that both systems function properly across different platforms and networks, and that the public is aware of what an official alert will look and sound like. The public should use this time to review their emergency plans.
For more information about this test or alert system, please visit www.haysinformed. com/eas.
