For Immediate Release: March 28, 2018

As part of a regional exercise, the City of Alexandria will test its Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system on Thursday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Cell phones or mobile devices located in or close to Alexandria during the exercise will receive a test message that reads: “This is a test of the City of Alexandria Wireless Alerts System. No action required.” The alert will trigger a loud noise while displaying a text message on the device. Each device may receive messages from multiple nearby jurisdictions during the period of the test.

WEA is a public safety alerting system allowing government officials to target emergency information to a specific geographic area using individuals’ cell phones or other mobile devices. WEA allows for targeted and efficient messaging, which is critical during emergencies. Periodic testing of public alerts and warning systems helps local governments assess their systems and identify any needed improvements. Conducting a regional test supports the continued use, training, and improvement of the WEA system.

Jurisdictions participating in the test include the cities of Alexandria, Bowie, College Park, Fairfax, Falls Church, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt, Manassas, Manassas Park, Rockville, and Takoma Park; Arlington, Charles, Fairfax, Frederick, Loudoun, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Prince William counties; and the District of Columbia.

For additional information about Wireless Emergency Alerts, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/wireless-emergency-alerts-wea.

For media inquiries, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.

This news release is available at alexandriava.gov/103013.