Millions of UK mobile phones will simultaneously sound emergency alerts on Sunday, September 7 at 3pm, marking only the second national test of the government's warning system. The alert will trigger a loud siren-like sound and vibration lasting up to ten seconds on 4G and 5G networks across the country.
The message appearing on screens 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." The alert forms part of a new Resilience Action Plan to improve emergency preparedness and response.
Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: "We do not use the system often, but like the fire alarm in your home, it is always on standby should we need to act." The system has proven effective during real emergencies, including Storm Éowyn in January and Storm Darragh in December 2024.
Previous emergency usage
Approximately 3.5 million people across Wales and South West England received alerts warning them to stay indoors during 90mph winds. The system has also been activated for an unexploded World War II bomb discovery in Plymouth and localised flash flooding in Cumbria and Leicestershire.
According to the Northern Echo, 15,000 phones were alerted during Cumbria flooding and 10,000 during Leicestershire flooding, demonstrating the system's targeted capability. The Liverpool Echo reports that 4.5 million people received alerts during Storm Éowyn across Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Technical requirements
The Northern Echo reports that phones need iOS 14.5 or higher for Apple devices and Android 11 or higher for Android devices to receive the alerts. The system works based on location rather than residence and doesn't require location settings to be enabled.
Safety considerations
The Liverpool Echo highlights that Women's Aid has warned about potential risks for domestic abuse victims who may have hidden phones that could be revealed during the test. While the government encourages keeping alerts enabled, individuals can opt out of emergency alerts if needed, particularly those in vulnerable situations.
The alert system operates independently of personal data and targets specific geographic areas during genuine emergencies. Previous activations have demonstrated the technology's life-saving potential across various emergency scenarios.
Sources used: "Liverpool Echo", "Northern Echo", "Manchester Evening News", "Daily Record", "Bristol Post" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
