Global blackout rumors and US emergency alert test

Social media speculation has emerged regarding a potential global blackout scheduled for November 17, 2026. Users on platforms such as X have linked these rumors to a scene from The Simpsons, specifically an episode titled “It’s a Blunderful Life,” where a character recalls a blackout occurring on that date. Some theories suggest the world could face up to 90 days without electricity or internet.

In response, authorities in the United States clarified that a scheduled national test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on November 17 is a routine, legally required procedure. FEMA and the FCC stated the test is restricted to the United States, does not involve the electrical grid, and is not related to the blackout theories. The test is scheduled to occur between 14:20 and 14:50 Eastern Time to ensure communication systems function during actual emergencies.

Fact-checking has identified that claims regarding a 90-day blackout appear to be a distortion of the “Fortress Directive,” a U.S. Department of Defense project intended to make approximately 500 military bases self-sufficient for 90 days in the event of cyberattacks. Experts note that this is an internal resilience measure for the armed forces and does not involve civilian power supplies.

In Brazil, the National Civil Defense has also addressed the rumors, clarifying that its recent recommendation for families to maintain 72-hour emergency kits is a standard preventive measure for natural disasters, such as storms or floods, and is not linked to any imminent global threat. Experts emphasize that the decentralized nature of global electrical infrastructure makes a simultaneous worldwide collapse technically unfeasible.