FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for August 11th. Test messages will be sent to TVs and radios, along with select cell phones that have opted-in to receive test messages.
FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this summer.
The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests will begin at 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Aug. 11.
The EAS national test is very similar to regular monthly tests typically originated by state authorities. During the test, radios and televisions across the country may interrupt normal programming to play the EAS test message. The message may be delivered in English or Spanish.
The WEA test will be directed only to consumer cell phones where the subscriber has opted-in to receive test messages, which will be in either English or Spanish, depending on the device’s language settings. Most mobile phones will not display the test message. In contrast, consumers will automatically receive real emergency alerts on compatible phones (even if they do not receive the test message). Instructions for how to opt-in to receive the test message on mobile devices can be found here.
FEMA to Help Pay Funeral Costs for COVID-19 Related Deaths
Beginning Monday, April 12, the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) will begin providing financial assistance for funeral expenses for COVID-19 related deaths that occurred after Jan. 20, 2020 to help decrease financial stress caused by the pandemic.
According to FEMA guidelines, to be eligible for COVID-19 funeral assistance:
- The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
- The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
- The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified immigrant who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.
- There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified immigrant.
The assistance is limited to a maximum of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500 per application. Funeral assistance is intended to assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation.
To apply for the program, call the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line at 844-684-6333 (toll free) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Central Time). For more information, visit FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance.
