Fayette schools encourage “teachable moment” during emergency test

Fayette County Public Schools want the nationwide alert testing happening at 2:18 p.m. on Oct. 3 to be used as a “teachable moment” regarding emergency preparedness for middle and high school students, who will still be in class during the drill.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in conjunction with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a test of the Wireless Emergency Alert on all devices, followed at 2:20 p.m. by a test of the Emergency Alert System on television and radio. Because there is no opting out of the test, students’ cellphones will go off during class, or during dismissal for elementary students.

This will be the first nationwide test of the alert system, which is used to notify the public about dangerous weather, missing children or other critical situations. No action is required during the test.