Conspiracy theories about FEMA’s Oct. 4 emergency alert test spread online

A planned national test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts system, which has been around since 2012, is scheduled to happen this Wednesday.

But that test is also causing some conspiracy theories. Here's what to know.

Alert test: Here's how to block the emergency alert test. Hint: It's not in your settings

Alert test: Cell phones along with TVs and radios across Ohio will sound an alarm at 2:20 p.m. today

CLAIM: An emergency broadcast system test on Oct. 4 will send a signal to cell phones nationwide in order to activate nanoparticles such as graphene oxide that have been introduced into people’s bodies.

AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. Wednesday's test of the nationwide Emergency Alert System uses the same familiar audio tone that’s been in use since the 1960s to broadcast warnings across the country. A spokesperson for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is overseeing the test, also said there are no known adverse health effects from the signal. The claims revive long-debunked conspiracy theories about the contents of the COVID-19 vaccine.

What else to know about the system test

The alerts have been used some 84,000 times to warn the public about everything from dangerous weather to missing children and other emergencies.

Those who have not opted out of such alerts, have a more recent cell phone and within the radius of a cell tower will receive a vibration alert and a unique tone over their phone as long as they are turned on at the time and are not in airplane mode.

At the same time, a test alert will also go out over TVs that are on at the time.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Conspiracy theories about FEMA’s Oct. 4 emergency alert test spread online