(WAND) — Across central Illinois, cellphones started beeping and buzzing at 1:18 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. This was part of a nationwide test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, known as IPAWS.

“It was basically just to show people that their phones will receive those messages, and just a test to make sure everything was working properly,” Ed Shimon, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lincoln, told WAND News.

FEMA and the National Weather Service use this emergency alert system to get urgent information out to the public.

“We alert phones, across the area, that are under a severe threat — either by tornado or significant severe storms or flash flooding — so that people can take action immediately upon us issuing a hazardous weather alert,” Shimon explained.

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He said this information can save lives by notifying cellphone owners to shelter in place, move to higher ground or take cover during severe weather.

“Not everybody has a weather radio, or is watching TV during severe weather. So the alert will go off whether or not they’re paying attention to the weather, so to speak,” Shimon said.

The information is so important, you actually cannot opt out of the alerts. Though you can disable Amber Alerts and Public Safety Alerts in your iPhone notification settings.

“They’re customizable in certain ways, but tornado warnings you can’t turn off and these tests you can’t turn off,” Shimon said.

Local emergency management agencies can also use this system. Some, like Macon County, offer their own free alert systems. Users can set up a profile and select the types of weather or emergency alerts they want to receive, along with community specific alerts. Click here to create an account.

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