You Should Have Received A ‘Presidential Alert’ On Your Cell Phone

October 3, 2018

Everyone in the country should have received an alert on their phone this afternoon, and a short time later there was an alert on broadcast television and radio stations. But many North Escambia area residents reported that they did not receive the alert. (We didn’t receive it on our NorthEscambia.com phones from Verizon.)

The test  happened at 1:18 p.m., when phones displayed a “Presidential Alert” with the note: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

A second test of the national Emergency Alert System, the kind that typically appears on TV and radio, will follow at 1:20 p.m.

“The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether improvements are needed,” according to FEMA.

A Presidential Alert is “meant for use in a national emergency, and the only type of WEA alert (wireless emergency alert) that can be sent nationwide by FEMA” according to the agency.

While individuals can opt out of ordinary emergency alerts (like Amber Alerts or extreme weather notifications), that’s not an option for Presidential Alerts. These types of alerts would be sent in the event of major national emergency, such as a mass terrorism event.

Comments

39 Responses to “You Should Have Received A ‘Presidential Alert’ On Your Cell Phone”

  1. Pop on October 5th, 2018 8:54 pm

    I got the alert and message in Escambia Co on my good OLD verizon flip phone ………

  2. Phllis McCormick on October 5th, 2018 2:10 pm

    Did not receive the alert on my Verizon phone (iPhone 6S plus

  3. Matchbox on October 5th, 2018 12:48 pm

    I received one on my Verizon and I was out of state

  4. Jen on October 4th, 2018 7:49 pm

    I have Verizon contract phone and did not get the alert. My husband has Verizon prepaid and he did get the alert sound but no message. It lasted three seconds. We were both side by side in downtown Atmore at the time.

  5. Sandralee Kmetz on October 4th, 2018 7:20 pm

    Never received this notification on Oct 3,2018

  6. Trudie Johnson on October 4th, 2018 1:32 pm

    We got it on our unlocked phones, Total Wireless service .

  7. Me on October 4th, 2018 12:36 pm

    I was in the city limits and received the alert on the AT&T phone but not on Verizon. Weird.

  8. Kelly on October 4th, 2018 9:36 am

    Must have something to do with where you were at. My daughter received it and she was at work within city limits. However, I did not receive it, I was at home, which is outside the city limits. We are both on the same Verizon service.

  9. Marilynn Ghiatis on October 4th, 2018 9:23 am

    We have AT&T and did not receive one either

  10. 429SCJ on October 4th, 2018 7:44 am

    I received my alert from President Trump. If you need us sir, well just call out.

    If you did not receive an alert, you are probably a Democrat or too old to lift a rifle.

  11. Howie on October 4th, 2018 6:23 am

    I got one, but disappeared before I could read it the entire message.

  12. Duns Megus on October 4th, 2018 5:57 am

    Verizon. Northeast Pensacola, just inside city limits. Got it.

  13. Curt on October 4th, 2018 5:43 am

    I received the first one but not the second on T-Mobile

  14. Aaron on October 3rd, 2018 10:59 pm

    I recieved 2 and I am on sprint

  15. Dana on October 3rd, 2018 10:10 pm

    Didn’t receive service is through T-Mobile

  16. Jim on October 3rd, 2018 10:01 pm

    Not on my Verizon Android device.

  17. Fred McDenny on October 3rd, 2018 9:58 pm

    I have AT&T, and got it….it always scares my dog when the signal goes off. My wife got it in Panama City. MAGA!

  18. Vivian on October 3rd, 2018 9:29 pm

    I have Verizon and I received it.

  19. Verizo--NOT-on on October 3rd, 2018 9:13 pm

    @ Grand Locust:
    Verizon is my cell server and it did not sound the Presidential Alert at all today.
    Reading the other “Verizon Missed Me” notes here tells me that Verizo-NOT-on is in the control of the Opposition Party.
    Your message speaks volumes yet is lacking references to the Mexican Mafia and Ninjas from Elberta.
    I’ll contact Verizo-NOT-on tomorrow to see what gives, or doesn’t give.

  20. Alec on October 3rd, 2018 8:04 pm

    Didn’t get one on my Verizon cell phone either

  21. Maria on October 3rd, 2018 7:54 pm

    I have Verizon and did not receive an alert.

  22. Beegee on October 3rd, 2018 7:07 pm

    I got one in Bratt,Verizon…..so did my husband on hwy 29!!!

  23. Loretta Floyd on October 3rd, 2018 6:55 pm

    My phone did not go off either (Verizon)

  24. Becky on October 3rd, 2018 6:48 pm

    I did not get the alert. I am with Verizon.

  25. chris on October 3rd, 2018 6:46 pm

    i got it about that time….im on sprint and was in orange beach at the time

  26. Chelleepea on October 3rd, 2018 6:40 pm

    Got it on my old phone with no service! I keep it to go on the Internet with wifi.

  27. Lauren on October 3rd, 2018 5:33 pm

    I was finishing up at wrk and nope I didnt get it on my cell phone either. Im with AT&T.

  28. Hello, Hello??? on October 3rd, 2018 5:20 pm

    Was downtown Pensacola and heard phones alerting around me.
    Mine (Verizon) did not show anything for this Presidential message and one of the others with me (AT&T) her phone remained silent also.
    Both phones work fine and were not in use when the Alert was sent.
    Wondering why these did not pick up the signal?
    Kinda wanted for them to so we’d know they got any important messages.

  29. Laura Glodfelter on October 3rd, 2018 5:15 pm

    no alert on my phone nor my sons phone. Not sure about my husbands

  30. no alert on October 3rd, 2018 4:57 pm

    AT&T, NO ALERT IN ATMORE, husband got the alert, AT&T also.

  31. Cathy Wood on October 3rd, 2018 4:05 pm

    This is such a great idea in this day and age!

  32. Brian on October 3rd, 2018 4:02 pm

    Didn’t receive alert. Full bars, Verizon, iphone 7, Milton. Can you hear me now?

  33. Leslie on October 3rd, 2018 3:49 pm

    I did not receive the alert. My phone is through Verizon also.

  34. Stringbean Baby on October 3rd, 2018 3:28 pm

    No alert for me!

    Anybody get one?

  35. Grand Locust on October 3rd, 2018 3:14 pm

    my text said the Venezuelan army had invaded the panhandle and took over the Escambia County Planning Commission where they were met with a marching band, banners, and balloons, as they patted each other on the back……comrades let us help you kill free markets and private property ownership. I do not believe this was a real text, because I saw an ad for depends, and everybody knows that socialist use pampers. Not real thrilled with big brother sending me a text….I will opt out.

  36. Richard on October 3rd, 2018 2:29 pm

    My wife got the alert on her phone. I did not get it on my I phone

  37. j on October 3rd, 2018 2:25 pm

    There was only an alert for 1 in 15 people, Why?

  38. Ed on October 3rd, 2018 12:26 pm

    Good idea except why “Presidential Alert ?” “Security Alert” would be more appropriate

  39. Sam on October 3rd, 2018 8:00 am

    Great idea