Americans Are About to Get a Text From Trump

It's part of a FEMA test of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 16, 2018 8:18 AM CDT
Prepare to Get a Text From Trump
In this Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, file photo, a woman holds up her cell phone before a rally with then presidential candidate Donald Trump in Bedford, NH.   (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

On Thursday at 2:18pm Eastern, chances are that you'll get a text from President Trump. But rather than urging you to make America great again, his missive will read: "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed." Its the first test on the presidential level of FEMA's system to warn Americans in the case of national emergency, reports CNN; the WEA also sends out AMBER alerts (the test on Thursday will sound just like one), as well as severe weather alerts. Sorry, Democrats, you can't opt out: the alert will go out to all subscribers of the more than 100 wireless carriers that participate in the WEA system. FEMA does say, however, that the test could be postponed by a weather emergency. (More President Trump stories.)

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