Emergency alert system and test on 23 April
The Government has launched a new system that will give the Government and emergency services the capability to send an alert directly to mobile phones when there is a risk to life.
A UK-wide alerts test will take place at 3.00pm on Sunday 23 April which will see people receive a test message on their mobile phones. The Emergency Alerts system will allow the government to get urgent messages quickly to nearly 90 per cent of mobile phones in a defined area. The system is now ready to be tested across the country following successful tests in East Suffolk and Reading. The alerts will only ever come from the Government or emergency services, and they will issue a warning, the details of the area impacted, and instructions about how best to respond.
- Emergency Alerts are messages sent to all compatible 4G and 5G mobile phones when there’s a danger to your life, health or property in the area you’re located. They don’t need your location or phone number. Only the government and the emergency services can send them. If you don’t have a mobile, you’ll still be kept informed through other channels.
- If you get an Emergency Alert on your phone, you’ll hear a loud, siren-like sound for about 10 seconds (even if you’re phone is set to silent). A message on your screen will tell you about the emergency and how best to respond. You’ll be able to check an alert is genuine at gov.uk/alerts
To learn more about Emergency Alerts, look out for the nationwide information campaign and visit gov.uk/alerts
The Government’s FAQ document provides further useful information.
