# Important note about the phone alert today {2023-10-04} **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 4, 2023, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106 "2023-10-04T17:00:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/1 "2023-10-04T17:00:32Z")
I’ve read that if you know a victim of abuse you should let them know to turn off or hide their emergency phone beforehand so that their abuser doesn’t become aware of it. Please pass it on if you can: > **[Wednesday's emergency alert may be annoying to some. For abuse victims, it...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/10/03/emergency-alert-wednesday-domestic-violence-victims-danger/71046701007/)** > > Those at-risk of domestic abuse often turn off alerts on hidden cellphones. But Wednesday's emergency test can't be muted. Here's what you can do. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/2 "2023-10-04T17:29:00Z")
According to this article, it’s going to be LOUD and it’s going to last for a half hour(!) between 2:20 and 2:50 EST. I have a Zoom meeting starting at 2:30, so that should be interesting. > **[If You Have a Secret Cell Phone, Turn It Off on Wednesday](https://lifehacker.com/if-you-have-a-secret-cell-phone-turn-it-off-on-wednesd-1850895009)** > > All cell phones are going to get an audible alert on Wednesday, whether or not they're on silent. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/3 "2023-10-04T17:31:15Z")
I’d heard the time was a half-hour but the actual time of the signal would be short. I’ll have to look around. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/4 "2023-10-04T17:33:12Z")
Yeah, it’s not clear in the article I linked to how long the actual loud part lasts. In any case, my meeting just got pushed a half hour to 3pm, probably because of this, I’m guessing. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/5 "2023-10-04T17:33:36Z")
> [@solost](#): > > According to this article, it’s going to be LOUD and it’s going to last for a half hour(!) between 2:20 and 2:50 EST. I have a Zoom meeting starting at 2:30, so that should be interesting. > > [If You Have a Secret Cell Phone, Turn It Off on Wednesday | Lifehacker](https://lifehacker.com/if-you-have-a-secret-cell-phone-turn-it-off-on-wednesd-1850895009) FWIW, from the article linked in the OP: > **The test alert** is set to blast out on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 2:20 p.m. EDT, 1:20 p.m. CDT, 12:20 p.m. MDT and 11:20 a.m. PDT and **will last about a minute** , similar to an Amber Alert or weather alert. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/6 "2023-10-04T17:33:46Z")
What if you have it on Airplane mode? Will that prevent the signal? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/7 "2023-10-04T17:36:51Z")
From the article **solost** linked in post #2, Airplane Mode will not prevent the signal. Only thing that seems like it will work is to turn off your device. EDIT: Actually, that’s again from the article in OP, not from **solost** ’s Lifehacker link. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/8 "2023-10-04T17:37:49Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > FWIW, from the article linked in the OP: > > > **The test alert** is set to blast out on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 2:20 p.m. EDT, 1:20 p.m. CDT, 12:20 p.m. MDT and 11:20 a.m. PDT and **will last about a minute** According to the article I linked to: > The test will last for 30 minutes, and will read either “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed,” or “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción,” depending on your language setting. But it’s not clear if that means the loud part will only be for a minute and the message stays prominent for a half hour, or if the one-minute message is replayed several times over the half hour, or maybe my article just has its facts wrong. Guess I’ll find out soon enough. ETA: the OP article says it will be one minute, and will only be sent once. So not sure what the Lifehacker article is on about with “The test will last for 30 minutes”. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/9 "2023-10-04T17:44:26Z")
I think that means the window for alerts is 30 minutes. Rather than everyone getting an alert at exactly 2:20, you may get a one-minute alert anytime between 2:20 and 2:50. I saw an article which said you can put your phone in airplane mode to avoid the alert: > [@](#): > > During that half-hour, wireless phones that are turned on, **not in “airplane mode”** and compatible with the alerts should receive a test message ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/10 "2023-10-04T18:19:58Z")
Two minutes early. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/11 "2023-10-04T18:20:57Z")
Zombie mode activated here! ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/12 "2023-10-04T18:21:56Z")
A little underwhelming. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/13 "2023-10-04T18:22:19Z")
Got mine. I feel normal. Well, that’s a stretch. But I’m ok. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/14 "2023-10-04T18:23:26Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Two minutes early Same - on the phone. The car radio alert came at 1:21 CDT. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/15 "2023-10-04T18:30:38Z")
I’m in the library. Lots of alerts all at the same time. LOUD. A librarian came on the PA system to assure people it was just a test. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/16 "2023-10-04T18:45:58Z")
Work phone and personal phone (different carriers and different “home” AC) got it about 20 sec apart but otherwise just your usual EAS test. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/17 "2023-10-04T18:49:48Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > A little underwhelming. I mean, have people here never got an emergency alert before, that they didn’t know what to expect? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/18 "2023-10-04T19:01:56Z")
I would’ve liked to been in a highschool and heard. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/19 "2023-10-04T19:04:05Z")
What’s the point of the test? If you didn’t get the alert, how would anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106/20 "2023-10-04T19:15:52Z")
I have this urge to eat **Beck’s** brains. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-note-about-the-phone-alert-today-2023-10-04/991106.md?page=2)