Emergency Alert Test – Sunday 23rd April
We have received this information from the Government
A new national Emergency Alerts service, which allows people to be contacted via their mobile phone if their
lives are at risk in an emergency, will be tested on Sunday 23 April.
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 they’re located. The service will be used to warn people about life-threatening emergencies such as severe flooding, fires or severe weather. Only the government and the emergency services can send them. The alerts don’t need a location or phone number and they don’t collect personal data. They work differently to a normal SMS or text message.
They sound different too. You’ll hear a loud, siren-like sound which will last for about 10 seconds. It will make a sound even if your phone is set to silent. A message on screen with information about the emergency and how best to respond. It will appear on your
screen until it’s acknowledged. If you receive an Emergency Alert, you should stop what you’re doing, read the alert (if
it’s safe to do so) and do what it says. You’ll be able to check an alert is genuine at www.gov.uk/alerts. People who don’t have a mobile will still be kept informed of emergency situations through other channels like local news, tv and radio.
The test will take place on Sunday 23 April, at 3pm.
The service is designed to warn people when lives are in danger, so it’s strongly recommended that people don’t opt out of it. However, there may be situations where it’s not appropriate – for example survivors of domestic abuse who have a hidden
handset. How to opt out will depend partly on the type of phone. There are instructions on the government website as well as much more information about Emergency Alerts.
Go to Information about alerts (opens in a new window)
If people are driving when the test takes place, they should not pick up their phone and attempt to deal with the message. They should continue driving as normal, staying in full control of their vehicle. If they feel the need to look at their phone, they must find
a safe and legal place to pull over first