What is the Emergency Alert System?

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system that requires radio and TV broadcasters, cable TV, wireless cable systems, satellite and wireline operators to provide the President with the capability to address the American people within 10 minutes during a national emergency. Broadcast, cable and satellite operators are the stewards of this important public service in close partnership with state, local, tribal and territorial authorities.

When emergencies and disasters occur, the rapid and effective dissemination of instructions and other essential information can significantly help reduce the loss of life and property. The EAS is designed to provide information to the public immediately. However, the EAS will only work through a coordinated statewide effort.

Below is a copy of the latest Minnesota Emergency Alert System Statewide Plan. 

• ECN- FCC Approved MN 2023 EAS Plan-pdf-2024-10-02.pdf

Required testing in Minnesota

The test is conducted on the first Wednesday of each month, starting with January; every odd month tests at 1:44 p.m. and even months tests at 10:44 p.m.  

What are Wireless Emergency Alerts? 

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are short emergency messages from authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial public alerting authorities that can be broadcast from cell towers to any WEA‐enabled mobile device in a locally targeted area. Wireless providers primarily use cell broadcast technology for WEA message delivery. 

Once local jurisdictions are IPAWS-approved, they will be able to send alerts and warnings to most cell phones using the IPAWS Wireless Emergency Alerts in a designated area.