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The UK government has announced the details of a national emergency alert message that will be broadcast as part of a key system test. At around 3pm on September 7, millions of mobile phones will emit a loud siren and vibrate for about 10 seconds.
The alert message, which is under 100 words, will be sent in both English and Welsh. It will tell recipients that no action is required and is part of a public awareness initiative by the Cabinet Office. The campaign aims to prepare people for emergencies and also consider those with hidden phones due to domestic abuse.
Only phones connected to 4G and 5G networks in the UK will receive the message.
The message will read, "This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby.
You do not need to take any action. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.
Find simple and effective advice on how to prepare for emergencies at gov.uk/prepare.
Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information or to view this message in Welsh. Ewch i gov.uk/alerts am ragor o wybodaeth neu i weld y neges hon yn y Gymraeg.”
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, compared the alert test to a household fire alarm, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the system works and its potential to save lives.
Since the initial national test in April 2023, the alert system has been activated five times. These included warnings during major weather events like Storm Eowyn in January, the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb in Plymouth, and flash floods in Cumbria and Leicestershire.
Some MPs have urged the government to explore additional communication methods for these alerts, to reach those without mobile phones. Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney has recommended adopting approaches used in Scandinavian countries, such as distributing emergency preparedness pamphlets.
