Electronic devices across the country sounded off in unison Wednesday afternoon as the Federal Emergency Management Agency conducted a new emergency alert test.

A test of FEMA's nationwide presidential alert was sent out around 2:18 p.m.

About 100 service providers including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile all participate in the program that launched back in 2012.

Dominick Tolli and his wife Judy were outside the Boyce Thompson Center in Yonkers moments before the alert came through.
           
"It's very good to alert the public, if god forbid, there's ever a problem,” says Judy Tolli.

Similar to notifications about Amber Alerts and extreme weather, these presidential messages will only be issued in the event of a national emergency.

Some say they do worry the alerts could create panic as well as a security concern. FEMA says they won't collect any user data as a result of the test and won't be able to track the location of those who receive the alert.

The test was initially set for Sept. 20, but was postponed in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.