Emergency Alert System Tests This Sunday

On Sunday 23 April at 3pm the government will be sending a UK-wide Emergency Alerts test message to all compatible devices.

Emergency Alerts is a new government service that will warn you if there is a danger to life nearby (e.g. flooding, fire). In an emergency, mobile phone masts will broadcast an alert in the affected area. The alert will automatically be received by compatible mobile phones and tablets in the area and will give advice about how to stay safe.

When you receive the message, your phone or tablet may vibrate and make a loud siren-like sound for about ten seconds, even if it is set on ‘silent’. The message will appear on your screen.

some people may not want the alert, for those who do not you can opt-out of receiving it.

You can opt out of receiving Emergency Alerts by adjusting your device settings, though the government advice is to keep them switched on for your own safety.

If you are a survivor of domestic abuse with a secret or secondary phone or tablet, please be aware the Emergency Alert will play a sound even if your device is on silent.

To turn Emergency Alerts off, charity Refuge have created this short video to show you how. Click here to watch the video.

Further information about the Alerts

English language Easy Read leaflet

In partnership with the UK Government, the Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership, has published fact sheets in a number of community languages at https://vcsep.org.uk/resources/emergency-alerts-system including:

• Bengali
• French
• Gujarati
• Tamil
• Ukrainian 
• Urdu