Yavapai County to Test Emergency Alert Systems April 2

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. — The Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management (YCOEM) will join forces with the National Weather Service Flagstaff Office for a county-wide test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

This coordinated test aligns with the weekly National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio test, aimed at ensuring the reliability of emergency communication channels. These alerts are critical for delivering information on severe weather, emergencies, and missing persons to residents’ cell phones, televisions, and radios.

The purpose of this test is to confirm the functionality of these systems, ensuring Yavapai County residents remain safe and informed during actual emergencies. “This test is essential for our preparedness,” said Debra Winters from YCOEM. “We want to ensure that our systems can reliably deliver important alerts to the public when needed.”

Residents with NOAA weather radios are encouraged to tune in to the frequency of 162.525 megahertz (MHz) during the test. The test is expected to last approximately 30 minutes, during which mobile devices enabled for Test Alerts will emit a distinct sound and vibration similar to an Amber Alert.

The test message will read: “Yavapai County Emergency Management: This is a TEST of the Wireless Emergency Alert System for Yavapai County on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. In an actual emergency, this system would be used to share potentially life-saving information. No emergency action is required. This is only a TEST. Visit yavapaiready.gov to complete a survey regarding this TEST. Thank you.”

Yavapai County officials urge residents to verify their phone settings to ensure they can receive both Emergency Alerts and Test Alerts. For additional information on Wireless Emergency Alerts, Emergency Alert Systems, and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), residents are encouraged to visit the Yavapai County website.