The statewide test, led by the Texas Division of Emergency Management, will activate local emergency alert systems. In the Austin area, officials will test both the Wireless Emergency Alerts system, known as IPAWS, and the regional notification system Warn Central Texas, which spans 10 counties.
To prevent overlapping alerts from neighboring counties, the Capital Area Council of Governments created a staggered regional schedule.
Each alert will be clearly labeled as a test and is not tied to any real emergency. Officials say no action is required.
The testing is intended to confirm the systems are working properly and help residents recognize what official emergency alerts look and sound like.