What was that emergency message on my phone?
Do I need to do anything?
Will it happen again?
These are the questions likely swirling Google and other search engine sites after the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission conducted a pair of simultaneous emergency alert system tests today, Wednesday, Oct. 4.  The FEMA and FCC emergency alert system test involved wireless providers and emergency managers. In short, if you or someone you know has a mobile phone, tablet, radio or TV, you likely received this test alert and either saw it, heard it and/or felt it (if your phone/notifications are on vibrate).
Here are answers to questions you may have about the test. Remember, it was only a test.
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A nationwide emergency alert test was set up via FEMA, the FCC, wireless providers for devices such as cell phones, tablets, TVs and radios that were turned on and in range of a cell tower.
“THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. The purpose is to maintain and improve alert and warning capabilities at the federal, state, local, tribal and territorial levels and to evaluate the nation’s public alert and warning capabilities. No action is required by the public.”
The test lasted for about a minute and only went out once, meaning just one message, just one minute of the (what some might describe as jarring or loud) emergency alert system noise.
The purpose of the nationwide emergency alert system test was to ensure everything works correctly − alert wise, communication wise − in the event of a big emergency, a national disaster or an attack.
No. This was a planned test of the entire nation’s Emergency Alert system to ensure everything works correctly in the event of a big, national disaster or attack.
The Amber Alert program was named after 9-year-old Amber Hagerman of Dallas, Texas, who was abducted and killed in 1996. Through Amber Alerts, law enforcement agencies work with radio and television outlets to broadcast suspect and victim descriptions in child abduction cases. Amber Alerts also are issued through smart phones and on road signs.
To aid in the recovery of missing children who are in danger where there is no evidence of an abduction, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement established the Missing Child Alert in 2003, according to its site.
AMBER has become an acronym for “America’s Missing: Broadcasting Emergency Response.”
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Missing Child Alert is broadcast “when a child is missing and believed to be in life-threatening danger, but there is no indication that the child has been abducted.”
The difference between a Missing Child Alert and an Amber Alert is the Missing Child Alert “may evolve into an AMBER Alert if the law enforcement investigation later reveals an indication that the child has been abducted. In these instances, the Missing Child Alert can serve as a mechanism to begin releasing information to the public while law enforcement continues to investigate the cause of the disappearance,” FDLE’s site states.
The Department of Public Safety issues Silver Alerts to the public if an elderly person is missing and believed to be in danger. Silver Alerts also apply to those with developmental disabilities. Like Amber Alerts, Silver Alerts are seen and heard on smart phones and road signs.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, “a Florida Purple Alert is used to assist in the location of missing adults suffering from a mental or cognitive disability that is not Alzheimer’s disease or a dementia-related disorder; an intellectual disability or a developmental disability; a brain injury; other physical, mental or emotional disabilities that are not related to substance abuse; or a combination of any of these and whose disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate danger or seriously bodily harm.”
The alert notifies the public via email or text alerts across the state, with information about where the person was last seen.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

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