Texas Announces Statewide Drill for Public Warning Systems

Test aims to evaluate effectiveness and functionality of local alerting tools

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:07pm

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The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has announced a statewide test of local public warning systems on April 2, 2026. The drill is designed to evaluate the effectiveness and functionality of these critical community safety tools before disaster strikes.

Why it matters

Regular testing of public warning systems is essential to ensure they operate effectively when needed most. This statewide drill will help identify any potential shortfalls and promote confidence in the technological tools used to alert Texans of emergencies.

The details

TDEM has requested participation from a wide range of local authorities and organizations, including emergency management programs, school districts, law enforcement, and others with emergency alerting capabilities. Participants will be asked to utilize their primary, alternate, and contingency systems during a designated 2.5-hour testing window to verify continuity within local alerting processes.

  • The statewide drill is scheduled for April 2, 2026.
  • TDEM announced the planned test on March 20, 2026.

The players

Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM)

The state agency responsible for coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts across Texas.

Nim Kidd

The Texas Emergency Management Chief who emphasized the importance of regular testing to ensure public warning systems operate effectively.

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What they’re saying

“Regular training and testing of public warning systems builds readiness before disaster strikes and is an important component of community safety.”

— Nim Kidd, Texas Emergency Management Chief

What’s next

After the drill, participating organizations have been asked to share a summary, key takeaways, and relevant details about the success of the local system test with state emergency management officials.

The takeaway

This statewide public warning system drill underscores Texas' commitment to proactively preparing communities for emergencies and ensuring critical alerting tools are ready to operate effectively when needed most.