4:50 AM Florida Emergency Alert Was a Mistake… Sort Of
At 4:50AM this morning, the 99% of us who keep our cell phones within arm’s reach while we sleep got an unwelcome early alarm clock. A loud test of the Emergency Alert System made phones buzz and scream, waking many up. Was anything wrong? No. It was just a test.
At 4:50AM!? Is someone going to get fired over this? Nope. Turns out it was actually planned. Sort of. And guess what? There’s another early morning test coming in 2023. And another. And another. And another.
But here’s the thing. The test was NOT supposed to be sent as a push to your cell phone, according to Yahoo News. It was supposed to be one of those tests like you see on TV or hear on our radio station. Someone hit the wrong button and it woke up a lot of angry Floridians. Keep an eye on this schedule below just in case because more are planned.
According to the Florida Association of Broadcasters web site, there are 4 more pre-5am tests planned for 2023. Maybe set a reminder to leave your phone in your car that night just in case someone hits the wrong button again! The Florida Division of Emergency Management has since apologized for the early morning wake up and that steps have been taken to make sure those early morning tests don’t go to your cell phone again. [Source: Yahoo]
2023 Scheduled Tests
January 20 at 1:50 PM
February 21 at 4:50 AM
March 20 at 1:50 PM
April 20 at 4:50 AM
May 22 at 1:50 PM
June 20 at 4:50 AM
July 20 at 1:50 PM
August 21 at 4:50 AM
September 20 at 1:50 PM
October 20 at 4:50 AM
November 21 at 1:50 PM
December 20 at 4:50 AM
The 13 Best Florida Neighborhoods To Buy A House
#1. Harbour Island
#1 on Niche’s list is Harbour Island right here in Tampa. This neighborhood had high scores for every factor except cost of living. So if you can afford it, it’s great. Otherwise, you may need to look at other neighborhoods on this list.
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#2. Quail Ridge
This Pasco County neighborhood made it to #2 on Niche’s list. This small suburb is perfect for small families. The only thing is it had a pretty bad rating for nightlife and commute.
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#3. Black Diamond
Don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of this town before. Black Diamond is a super small town in Citrus County with a population of 1,023 people. If you want to get away from all the traffic and big cities, this might be the neighborhood for you. For nature lovers, it’s pretty close to many of Florida’s natural springs.
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#4. Bel Mar
Another Tampa neighborhood on this list! Bel Mar is located in Hillsborough County not far from Bayshore Blvd. Which means the available houses in this area are going to be in the 7 digits.
Photo: BBGI
#5. Beauclerc
Coming in at #5 is Beauclerc, which is near Jacksonville. This place is centrally located in Jacksonville and has great ratings for public schools, housing, jobs and nightlife.
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#6. Montclair
Another Jacksonville neighborhood to make the list. Jacksonville was also recently named one of the best cities in Florida to work in. This town is actually located right next to Beauclerc.
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#7. East Milton
East Milton is a pretty big suburb in Santa Rosa County, which is near the panhandle and Pensacola. You can find some houses for sale here for $200,000. The only catch is you’re quite a drive away from any major city.
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#9. East Park
If you love theme parks and can tolerate I-4 on a normal basis, then this might be the perfect neighborhood for you. The median home prices in this area are $320K, so it’s totally possible to find a nice, affordable house. This area is located right by the Orlando International Airport, so if you’re a person who travels a lot, this might be a good option for you.
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#12. Audubon Park
This is another suburb close to Orlando. Reviews call it a quite, picturesque neighborhood with lots of trees. It’s also super close to the Leu Botanical Gardens in Orlando!
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#13. Beach Park
The last neighborhood on this list is another suburb of Tampa. This neighborhood is a quick drive to the heart of Downtown Tampa, so you know there will be plenty of things to do. The median home value in this area is about 500K, but at least you’ll be getting your moneys worth
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