This Sunday, 23rd April, at precisely 3pm, the United Kingdom will witness an unprecedented test of its national resilience. Every compatible mobile phone across the nation will emit a loud, siren-like sound and vibrate for about ten seconds, even if set to silent.
This is the UK government's first nationwide test of its new Emergency Alerts service, a system designed to warn the public in the event of imminent threats to life. The service will be used to alert citizens to extreme weather events, such as severe flooding, wildfires, or other major civil emergencies.
What Will The Alert Look and Sound Like?
The message will appear on phone home screens, accompanied by a distinctive warning sound and vibration. It will clearly state: "This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby."
A key government message accompanying the test is: "You do not need to take any action. The alarm will stop automatically after ten seconds. All you need to do is swipe away the message, just as you would any other notification, and then continue to use your phone as normal."
Who Will Receive The Alert?
The test will be broadcast to 4G and 5G mobile devices across the UK. If your device is turned off or in airplane mode at the time of the test, you will receive the alert the next time your phone is switched on and connected to a compatible network.
Opting Out Of The System
For those who do not wish to receive these alerts, it is possible to opt out. Users can search their device settings for 'emergency alerts' and turn off 'severe alerts' and 'extreme alerts'. However, the government strongly advises against this, emphasising that the service is a vital tool in keeping the nation safe during critical emergencies.
This test represents a significant step forward for the UK's public warning capabilities, bringing it in line with other countries like the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands that already have similar systems in place.
