Everyone is getting a cellphone message today at the same time , 2:18 pm est

[SummerSnow]

[dogman]

1. Will we be able to block this caller?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. No, it's part of the national emergency messaging system, similar to Amber alerts.

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

28. It should be called the Federal Alert System

Calling it the “presidential alert system” is making me want to hurl my new phone against the wall.

[onenote]

35. its called a presidential alert because only the president can authorize a nationwide alert

Regional alerts from the federal government don't require presidential approval.

It actually makes sense.

[fleur-de-lisa]

3. I wonder if we can respond.

I'm thinking my response will be either FUCK YOU or RESIGN, TRAITOR.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. No, it's like an Amber alert. It's not actually from Trump, either.

[fleur-de-lisa]

5. Damn it, VO, can't I have any fun?

[importDavid]

6. I'm putting my iPhoneX in airplane mode at 1:15pm EST

And forcibly turning off Cellular, Wifi and Bluetooth

Let's see if it overrules those settings. THAT would be discouraging if it still goes through.

I will report back...

[bearsfootball516]

8. It'll stop it, but as soon as you turn it back on, it'll come through.

[HipChick]

9. Why 1:15pm EST..

[haele]

31. So management can tell if people haven't come back from lunch yet...

That's before the time the liquid lunchers stagger back.
And a lot of people pretend they're back at their desks at 1:00 pm.

Haele

[Timewas]

7. Have to see

I have a call blocker activated on my phone, blocks any number not in my contacts list...

[zipplewrath]

14. It's not a call

It's not a text message. It is a special communication feature that you can't "turn off". If the phone is off, it will just store it until you turn it on. (Unless you've found a hack, in which case, DO SHARE!)

On edit: It appears that FEMA is going to put a 30 minute "expiration" time on the message. So if you aren't connected for more than 30 minutes, the message will just "expire" and never reach you.

[Timewas]

16. App also

Blocks SMS from numbers not in my contact list

[zipplewrath]

17. Yeah, that won't work either

Well, I should say it SHOULDN'T work. Of course part of this test is to figure out if there are those kinds of "holes" in the system.

[Timewas]

24. worked just fine

No alert came through

[zipplewrath]

25. Give it a few

There coming a few minutes apart around here. But if it does work, I might have to arrange mine. What kinda phone?

[Timewas]

33. Phone is

Samsung J7 max, App is called Black list plus, this is the free version there is a pro also but don't have that one

[Bfd]

10. How often will we be getting these random Presidential Messages?

If Trump has no say in this message then it should be from FEMA.

If I pull the battery will I still receive the alert when I put it back in?

Who is head of FEMA & can we trust that person to use this system as it was intended?

Trust anyone appointed by Trump?
Nope. Never. Why would we.

[Demsrule86]

11. will delete

[MineralMan]

12. Not me. My cellphone will be off, as usual.

I carry it when I'm out for emergency purposes. Nobody has the number, except my wife. The only calls and texts I get are for the previous owner of the number - and that was over 8 years ago.

I don't do cell phones, as a rule. I have one, but rarely use it, except when I'm travelling. My wife has one on all the time, though, so she's going to get this alert.

[redstatebluegirl]

13. Can i text back f you small hands?

[LAS14]

15. Please update your OP to include fact that the message won't be from Trump. nt

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211226353#post4

[leftyladyfrommo]

18. 2 minutes to go

[BumRushDaShow]

19. THAR SHE BLOWS

[leftyladyfrommo]

20. There it went. On both cellphones.

[BumRushDaShow]

21. What's interesting is that on mine

(I have a couple cells) it came across twice on each.

[BumRushDaShow]

22. COMING ACROSS RADIO NOW

[BumRushDaShow]

23. COMING ACROSS TV NOW

[elleng]

26. Not I! My little old flip phone didn't receive it,

but my radio station did.

[BannonsLiver]

27. I didn't get it

My phone has been on airplane mode with WiFi. Was smugly told by several self proclaimed wireless communications experts here there was no way to opt out. Looks like they were WRONG.

[Ron Obvious]

29. Didn't get anything

Having 10 year old phone with only SMS and phone capability is no doubt why.

[central scrutinizer]

30. I didn't get it

But I’m in Chile with a local SIM card in my unlocked iPhone. Maybe it will pop up when I return to EEUU and put my old SIM card back in

[importDavid]

32. Yeah once I turned Cellular Data back on....

I got the fugly thing two minutes later. Ugh.

[monmouth4]

34. I have nothing..n/t

[OilemFirchen]

36. Don't know if it works with "Presidential" alerts, but you may be able to turn it off.

My phone, running Android 8.1.0, allows me to turn off Emergency Alerts (AMBER, extreme threats, severe threats, and public safety alerts). Find it under Apps and Notifications, Advanced, Emergency alerts.

I intended to try it, but forgot. Anyone else give it a shot?