Public Alert System Test Scheduled for July 16

Public Alert System Test Scheduled Across Allegan, Berrien, and Van Buren Counties on July 16, 2025

Residents across Allegan, Berrien, and Van Buren Counties should be aware that a coordinated live test of public alerting systems will take place on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 10:50 A.M.

The test is being conducted by these county emergency management offices in partnership with state and federal agencies to evaluate the performance of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), the Emergency Alert System (EAS), and other mass notification tools.

This test will alert countywide within all three counties. Van Buren County will initiate the alert for all three counties. No action is required from the public. However, residents are encouraged to complete a brief online survey to share when and how they received the alert.

What You Can Expect

A test message will be sent to mobile phones using the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system.
Television and radio broadcasts may be briefly interrupted by a test message via EAS.
Residents may also receive messages through NOAA Weather Radios and county notification systems, including phone calls, texts, or emails.

Sample Alert Messages

WEA (90 characters):“TEST. Van Buren County. This is a TEST. For Feedback: https://arcg.is/0yWmWi “
WEA (Long form): “This is a TEST of the Van Buren County, MI warning system... Please provide feedback here: https://arcg.is/0yWmWi “
EAS -“This is a TEST of the Van Buren County, MI warning system. This system will be used in emergencies to warn the public of danger and provide protective actions to avoid harm. Please complete a feedback survey on the Van Buren, Allegan, or Berrien County Emergency Management webpage.” This is only a TEST.

Why This Test Matters

The goal is to ensure the systems can effectively reach residents during emergencies such as severe weather, chemical spills, or other public safety events. Public feedback helps emergency managers assess how these systems perform across various devices, locations, and service providers. This is also the first test we have conducted where multiple counties are alerted at one time, allowing us to test our ability to back each other up.

Who Will Receive the Alert

Residents within all county boundaries of Allegan, Berrien, and Van Buren Counties should expect to receive the test messages. Testing across full county lines avoids confusion about specific sub-areas and ensures broader community awareness.

How to Make Sure You’re Ready

To ensure your mobile phone receives the wireless emergency alert:

iPhone: Go to Settings > Notifications, then scroll down and make sure Emergency Alerts and Public Safety Alerts are turned ON.
Android: Go to Settings > Safety & Emergency (or Wireless Emergency Alerts), and enable all alert types.

Residents are also encouraged to register for their county’s local alert systems:

Allegan County – Smart911 Alerts: Register at www.smart911.com
Berrien County – B-WARN!: Visit www.bcsheriff.org
Van Buren County uses a commercial notification system that may send phone calls to landlines and mobile devices using available public contact data — no signup is required.

About the Phone Call Alert

Some residents may receive a phone call from Van Buren County’s Commercial Mass Notification System. The message will identify itself as an official alert test, though it may initially resemble a telemarketing call. Please stay on the line to hear the full message — it is part of a legitimate emergency preparedness test.

Did You Get the Alert? Let Us Know.

After receiving the test, residents are encouraged to complete a short survey at:
https://arcg.is/0yWmWi
This information will help improve public safety and communication efforts across the region.

Additional Information

If you do not receive the alert, it may be due to disabled settings, poor cell coverage, or an unsupported device. You can improve your readiness by checking alert settings or considering tools like NOAA Weather Radios for backup notification in areas with limited mobile service.

Participating Agencies

This test is led by Van Buren County Office of Domestic Preparedness, in cooperation with Berrien County Emergency Management, and Allegan County Emergency Management. Technical support is also provided by federal and state partners, including the FCC, FEMA, National Weather Service, the Michigan State Police - Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division, Michigan Association of Broadcasters, and commercial mobile service providers.