Verizon: Emergency Text Message Only a Test

Updated 3:27 p.m. An emergency text message delivered to some residents of Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean Counties telling them to seek shelter from an impending civil defense emergency was a test, according to Verizon. From Verizon's official statement:

"This test message was not clearly identified as a test. We apologize for any inconvenience or concern this message may have caused."

Many Verizon Wireless customers received an alert earlier today of a civil emergency in the area, confirmed Patrolman Sgt. Andrew DeMuth, from the Freehold Borough Police. Not all Verizon customers received the alert, but those that did were told to take shelter until 1:24 p.m. today. 

DeMuth received a copy of the text message which read “Civil Emergency in this area until 1:24 p.m. est. take shelter now U.S. Govern.”

“After receiving several calls about the text message we called other agencies and confirmed that the text message is only a hoax,” said DeMuth.

The New Jersey State Police are now looking into the origin of the text message.

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said 9-1-1 calls more than tripled in volume for a typical weekday lunch hour following the emergency message.

“We received 172 calls within a half-hour of the text message going out,” Golden said.

The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office subsequently received confirmation from Verizon that the message was inadvertently sent out and alerted other agencies, Golden said.