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FEMA To Test ‘Presidential Alert’ System Next Week

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September 14, 2018 5:01 p.m.
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) next week will test the Emergency Alert System, which allows the President to address Americans via text message in the event of a national emergency.

The test alert, which will be sent at 2:18 p.m. ET on Sept. 20, will note that it’s a test of the system. At that time, all cell phone within the range of a cell tower will receive the message.

Basically, this is a reminder that in the event of a national emergency, President Trump will be able to reach all of us via text message.

 
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Caitlin Mac Neal (@caitlinmacneal)  is TPM's special projects editor, based in Washington, D.C. She first came to TPM as a newswriter, and has written for HuffPost, the Sunlight Foundation and Slate.
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Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for erik_t erik_t says:

  2. Avatar for mrf mrf says:

    Can you imagine the text “To all Americans, except the haters and losers there is a very bigly storm coming!” “If you are surrounded by a lot of water it will be very difficult for you to evacuate!” Covfefe!

  3. I, for one, look forward to my daily “NO COLLUSION!!!” emergency message.

  4. TEST MESSAGE BEGINS NOW

    There is an emergency situation currently in the United States. The government has its best people working on the situation. Remain calm.

  5. can I text-enter STOP to stop both his texts and his presidency?

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