Cell phones to receive national emergency test message

An emergency message from the federal government will be sent to cell phone users October 3 at approximately 2:18 p.m. ET.

The presidential alert test message is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) system to warn the public in cases of national emergencies. 

The message will include the header "Presidential Alert" and the message will say, "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed."

The test will be broadcast over the course of about 30 minutes and sound the same as an AMBER Alert. Users cannot opt out of the presidential alert test.

More than 100 carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile, will participate in the emergency alert test.