On Wednesday, October 4th at 2:20 PM Eastern (EST) and 12:20 PM Mountain time, a nationwide test of the emergency alert system will take place, and all cell phones will broadcast a loud blaring sound. This is a major safety concern for individuals experiencing domestic violence with any hidden phones. The YWCA Wheeling is cautioning any individual in this situation to turn your phone off or switch it to airplane mode on Wednesday morning.
During the emergency test, individuals should expect to hear a distinctive, attention-getting tone, followed by a text message that explains the alert. While these alerts are invaluable for public safety, they can pose risks to survivors who have hidden phones by inadvertently alerting the abuser that the phone exists.
Receiving alerts such as Amber Alerts is a common occurrence for those with a cellphone and is a feature you can turn off through your phone settings for year-round protection from unexpected alerts. However, this upcoming national test is not an alert that can be disabled or turned off within the device. Therefore, survivors should power off their devices during the test and not schedule phone calls on their hidden cellphones during that time.
On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States, which is a sobering statistic. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the YWCA Wheeling is taking this opportunity to educate and bring awareness to these issues. If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence, our 24/7 emergency number is 1-800-698-1247.
