WASHINGTON (AP) - An emergency alert system is being tested across the country.

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The test is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday and will be broadcast on all radio and television channels. It will last for about 30 seconds.

Listeners will hear a message indicating that it's a test.

The test is being organized by several federal agencies. Officials say they're doing the test in the afternoon to avoid rush-hour disruptions. They say the date was picked because it's near the end of hurricane season but before the arrival of winter.