Plans to conduct two nationwide Emergency Alert tests on Thursday have been put off a couple of weeks to Oct. 3.

Morgan Hoagland with Arizona’s Emergency Management Division said FEMA delayed the test while it handled hurricane emergencies along the east coast.

When it is activated, cell phone customers across the country will first receive a text for a test of the Emergency Alert System, followed by a test of the Wireless Emergency Alert System (WEA).

“This is the first time it’s ever been done, a national WEA test,” said Hoagland, glad for the extra time to test the new secondary system.

“Lots of cellular providers out there need to see this test as well,” he added, “This is kind of a first for this particular type of test.”

The Emergency Alert System has been tested three times before, twice under President Barack Obama in 2011 and 2016, and once by President Donald Trump in September 2017.