Public Alert System test scheduled across Allegan, Berrien, and Van Buren counties

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.

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 that has been conducted where multiple counties are alerted at one time, allowing for the system to test their 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.

To ensure your mobile phone receives the wireless emergency alert on iPhones: Go to Settings > Notifications, then scroll down and make sure Emergency Alerts and Public Safety Alerts are turned ON. For Android: Go to Settings > Safety & Emergency (or Wireless Emergency Alerts), and enable all alert types.

Residents in the Tri-Cities are encouraged to register for their county’s local alert systems: 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.

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.

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

For those who 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.

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.