Overview
- The alert reading "This is a test of the South Pasadena WEA system. There is no emergency" reached phones around 5:50–6 p.m. Tuesday.
- City spokesperson Jennifer Colby said South Pasadena apologized and opened an investigation, with early findings pointing to human error rather than a Finalsite malfunction.
- Reports indicated the message was received widely across Los Angeles County and in some areas beyond, including Orange and San Luis Obispo counties.
- Wireless Emergency Alerts rely on FEMA, the FCC, carriers and local officials using geographic targeting, a chain that introduces multiple points where mistakes can occur.
- The episode recalls January’s countywide misbroadcast that a federal review tied to a Genasys technical issue and carrier overload, which flooded roughly 10 million phones.