The emergency alert system will be tested for the second time in the UK on Sunday, September 7 with the loud siren and vibration going off for around 10 seconds
A deafening alarm will ring out from mobile phones across the UK in a nationwide test of the emergency alert system. The drill, set for 3pm on Sunday, September 7, will see Brits receive a message warning of imminent life-threatening danger.
Even if set to silent, mobiles will vibrate and blare out a siren for about 10 seconds. The alert will be accompanied by a pop-up message clarifying that it’s merely a test. When the test alert pops up, there’s no need to panic or take any action – simply swipe away the message or tap ‘OK’ on your phone’s home screen.
Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, commented: “Emergency alerts have the potential to save lives, allowing us to share essential information rapidly in emergency situations including extreme storms.”
He added: “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.”, reports the Mirror.
This so-called “Armageddon alert” was first put through its paces nationwide in 2023, with five localised alerts issued since then to warn of severe weather conditions.
The most extensive use of the system occurred during Storm Eowyn in January, when a staggering 4.5 million people in Scotland and Northern Ireland received the alert following a red weather warning over risk to life. A further 3.5 million individuals in Wales and the South West of England were alerted during Storm Darragh in 2024, and the system has also been deployed during flash flooding incidents in Cumbria and Leicestershire.
The system was also deployed when an unexploded World War II bomb was discovered in Plymouth in February 2024. According to Tracey Lee, chief executive of Plymouth City Council, “This was the first time the system had been used in a real emergency, and it played a vital role in helping us safely evacuate over 10,000 people and coordinate a complex, multi-agency response.”
Comparable emergency systems are in place in countries such as Japan and the US. In Finland, a nationwide test is conducted monthly, whereas other countries like Germany conduct annual trials.
A public awareness campaign will be launched prior to the test, including targeted communications for vulnerable groups, such as domestic abuse victims. While everyone is encouraged to keep the life-saving alert enabled, it is possible to opt out if it poses a risk to someone’s safety.
Domestic abuse campaigners had raised concerns that the siren could inadvertently alert abusive partners to a secret phone. This development coincides with the Government’s release of a new blueprint today (Tuesday) aimed at enhancing emergency preparedness and response.
Ministers will also provide an update on the implementation of the 2023 Biological Security Strategy, which focuses on preparing for future pandemics.
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By staronline@reachplc.com (Lizzy Buchan, Adam Cailler)
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