On Wednesday the 3rd, almost every smart phone in the United States got a message from President Trump at 1:18 central time.  The message read “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” The message was just a test of the first ever Presidential Alert.  The message had the same sound and look as an amber alert would.

A lot of people are confused by the name, “Presidential Alert.”  A lot of people think that President Trump can message whatever he wants to all of our smartphones.  The test is actually controlled by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In order to activate an alert two workers at FEMA have to authorize the message.  The alert system is not going to be controlled by President Trump. The test is going to be used to alert all smartphones in the US when there is a terrorist attack, the US is under attack, a natural disaster, ect.  Alanna Golden, Sophomore at MHS said: “ I think it’s a good idea, I assumed most of the population would be appreciative about the new system because it informs you about terrorist attacks, war, etc. I think it’s good we can all receive this information.” The new system is going to be like the alerts you get when a child is abducted, but, you won’t be able to turn it off.  

Some people were complaining that they didn’t receive the message.  Zoey Whorton, Freshman at MHS said: “I didn’t understand it, it didn’t even pop up on my phone.” Some people didn’t get the message if they weren’t by a cellular tower, their phone was off or if they were talking to someone on the phone.  It is documented that 225 million phones received the alert and all televisions and radios got the alert. FEMA says that they “expected to reach 75% of all smartphone users. The alert was not supposed to interrupt any phone calls.” FEMA is currently working on how all of the smartphones will be notified of any upcoming Presidential Alert.