Alert and Warning Annual Test

The next Local - Test is projected to take place on  ⚠️⚠️⚠️Wed, March 19, 2025. MT ⚠️⚠️⚠️

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2024:
Warning Dissemination TEST Message on Wednesday, March 20, 1:30 PM, 2024 MT
 
A TEST Warning message was sent to Pennington County residents on ALL available dissemination methods on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 1:30 PM Mountain Time.
  • Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to cell phones that have WEA test message enabled
  • Emergency Alert System (EAS) via participating television and radio broadcasters
  • Weather Radios - All Hazards tuned into the proper codes
  • Pennington County Outdoor Alert Sirens
  • Public Warning Messages to subscribers
 

A TEST Warning message will be sent on ALL of Pennington County’s available dissemination methods on Wednesday, March 19, at 1:30 PM Mountain Time.
The test message will be sent by Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to cell phones (WEA test messages must be enabled), to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) seen on television and radio, heard on Weather Radios - All Hazards, heard outside on Pennington County Outdoor Alert Sirens, and to all Public Warning Messages subscribers.

The goal of this test is to have the best possible saturation of Pennington County residents and businesses, using all of our emergency alert and warning capabilities. We want to make sure individuals are aware of the emergency messaging dissemination methods that exist in Pennington County and how the community can receive alerts and warnings issued by public alerting authorities during emergencies.

This 2nd Annual Alert and Warning test message provides an opportunity for businesses, schools, and medical facilities to review their safety plans and provides them an opportunity to hold a drill or exercise for staff, faculty, or students if needed. 

How to make sure you receive the Annual TEST message on all the dissemination methods:
  • Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) –WEA is a public safety system that allows enabled mobile devices to receive geographically targeted, text-like messages alerting them of imminent threats to safety in their area, with a unique sound and vibration. Check your device settings to ensure it is enabled to receive a WEA TEST message. Seek out your mobile phone manufacturer or wireless provider for specific instructions to access hidden menus or functions where the WEA Test alerts can be enabled.
  • Emergency Alert System (EAS) – The Emergency Alert System is a national public warning system that requires TV and radio broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service providers, direct broadcast satellite service providers, and wireline video service providers to offer to deliver important emergency information from the President or AMBER (missing children) alerts and emergency weather information targeted to a specific area. If you turn on your television to a local broadcast station at the time of the test, you should see the message.
  • Weather Radio All-HazardA NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You must have a NOAA weather radio tuned into our SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) code to receive the test message. Find the code for your area in Pennington County at this LINK
  • Outdoor Alert Sirens – Anytime an outdoor siren activates in Pennington County it will be a steady, constant tone, (not a beeping or high/low tone) and can be heard if you are outdoors and near a siren location when it is activated for a test or an actual event.
  • Public Warning Messages – Businesses and residents listed in the Pennington County 911 database (landlines) have been automatically added to receive alerts by landline phone, but citizens can self-register and provide additional contact information paths—such as a cell phone, text, home phone, or other methods—to ensure you receive the test message on March 19 and other life-saving messages that may be sent through this system. Register to receive these messages HERE.
During a rapidly evolving incident in Pennington County, we will use all available and appropriate warning tools to alert the community of any life-threatening, all-risk, all-hazard emergency from natural threats or human-caused threats. Learn more about each of the Emergency Warning methods used in Pennington County HERE.