Millions of phones will receive emergency alerts on Sunday, September 7 as the Government announces a second national test of the warning system.
The Emergency Alert test will happen at around 15:00pm
The Government says the system is used to warn if there’s a danger to life nearby, including extreme weather. It allows vital information and advice to be sent to people rapidly in an emergency.
During the test, mobile phones will vibrate and make a loud siren sound for roughly ten seconds, even if they are set to silent.
A message will also appear on phone screens, making it clear the alert is only a test. There are approximately 87 million mobile phones in the UK.
The test will be just the second of its kind and is designed to familiarise the public with the alerts. This is in line with standard practice in other countries, such as Japan and the USA.
Ahead of the national test, the government will be running a public information campaign to notify people that the test is taking place, including communications targeted at vulnerable groups, such as victims of domestic abuse. The campaign will also feature products in British Sign Language.
Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: “Emergency Alerts have the potential to save lives, allowing us to share essential information rapidly in emergency situations including extreme storms. Just like the fire alarm in your house, it’s important we test the system so that we know it will work if we need it.
Since the first national test of the Emergency Alerts system in April 2023, five alerts have been sent, including during major storms when lives were at risk.
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