Emergency alert set for Wednesday in Multnomah County. Don't worry, it's a test

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – If your phone buzzes with an Emergency Alert on Wednesday afternoon in the Portland metro area, don’t be too alarmed.

Devices are set to light up around 2 p.m. as Multnomah County tests its Wireless Emergency Alert system, the same system used by the National Weather Service and the president to share critical information in the midst of disaster.

Officials say people living in — and a few outside — county limits can expect a loud buzzing, similar to an Amber Alert, along with a brief message in Spanish and English.

They say the best time to run this test is before an emergency strikes.

“We sometimes don't have days to sort of warn folks. Sometimes it's minutes, sometimes it's hours,” Emergency Management Director Chris Voss said. “This is one of the many system