FEMA emergency test: Why everyone’s phones and TVs will simultaneously sound on Wednesday

Why your phone buzzed or pinged on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

At 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, you may notice your phone make a sound … along with the phones of everyone around you, at the very same time.

That will also coincide with a message on your television if you’re watching.

What’s the deal with that? Here’s the answer: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be conducting a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System on Wednesday, Oct. 4, which makes sure that in the case of an actual emergency, we can all be alerted.

So no need to panic — as the alerts on our TVs used to say back in the day, “this is only a test.”