Emergency system test tomorrow

If your cell phone buzzes loudly twice tomorrow between 10 and 11 a.m., don’t be alarmed. Local governments in the D.C. region, including Fairfax County will be testing the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system.

Cellphones or mobile-enabled devices located in Fairfax County will receive a test message that reads: “This is a test of the Fairfax County Alert System. No action is required.”

The WEA system is used to send geographically targeted, text-like messages to alert people of imminent threats to safety in their area. Since it was launched in 2012, WEA has been used more than 33,000 times to warn people about dangerous weather, chemical spills, missing children, and other critical situations. People do not need to sign up for the alerts.