Anyone in the U.S. with a mobile phone, TV or radio on Oct. 3 should expect a test alert message from the U.S. government. It’s only a test and not a real emergency.

On Wednesday at 11:18 a.m. Pacific time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission will test wireless networks with a test message, followed by a one-minute emergency alert system test on TV and radio.

Any mobile devices switched on and within range of an active cellular tower, with a wireless carrier that participates in the wireless emergency alert system, will receive a test text message.

The national test is not connected to the university; the next test of the UO Alerts text and email notification system on campus is scheduled for the Great Oregon ShakeOut earthquake drill Oct. 18.