UK Emergency Alerts Test – 23rd April – Facts you need to know
The UK government has announced the implementation of an Emergency Alert System (EAS),
which is set to be tested on Sunday, April 23rd. This EAS aims to warn individuals of any life-threatening
emergencies in their area through their mobile phones and tablets.
In this blog, we’ll provide you with all the important facts you need to
know about the UK’s emergency alert system, including how it works and how you can ensure you receive these alerts.
What is the Emergency Alert System (EAS)?
The Emergency Alert System is a government service designed to warn citizens
if there is a life-threatening emergency nearby.
The system will use mobile phone masts to broadcast alerts in the affected area,
which will be received by compatible mobile phones and tablets.
How does the system work?
In the event of an emergency, mobile phone masts in the surrounding area will broadcast an alert to all compatible mobile phones and tablets in range.
The alert will provide advice on how to stay safe during an emergency.
What types of emergencies will the system warn about?
The Emergency Alert System in the UK is designed to warn people about a range of life-threatening emergencies, including but not limited to, flooding, fire, and terrorist incidents.
The system is intended to provide people with immediate information and instructions to help them stay safe during emergencies.
When will the system be tested?
The system will be tested on Sunday, 23 April at 3 pm, with a UK-wide text message being sent to all compatible devices.
Along with this message, there will be a loud siren-like sound or vibration that will last for around 10 seconds.
This is all part of the government’s test of the Emergency Alert System.
What will the test message say?
The test message will say, “This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.
Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action.”
How will I know if my device is compatible?
Here are the compatible devices that can receive Emergency Alerts:
- iPhones running iOS 14.5 or later.
- Android phones and tablets running Android 11 or later.
- Earlier versions of Android may still be able to receive alerts,
but it’s recommended to check the device settings for “emergency alerts” to confirm.
Additionally, Emergency Alerts work on all 4G and 5G phone networks in the UK.
It’s important to ensure that your device has the latest software updates to receive Emergency Alerts.
Is it possible to disable alerts?
The government strongly recommends enabling devices to receive alerts for the user’s safety.
However, users can choose to disable the alerts by searching their settings for “emergency alerts” and turning off “severe alerts” and “extreme alerts”. Despite this, it is recommended to keep the alerts switched on.
Meanwhile, Refuge, a charitable organization, has created a brief instructional video demonstrating how to disable Emergency Alerts.
Watch the video here.
What are the reasons you may not receive the alert?
You will not receive the alert if:
- Your device is turned off or in airplane mode.
- Your device is connected to a 2G or 3G network.
- Your device is Wi-Fi only.
- Your device is not compatible with the Emergency Alert System.
To ensure that you receive Emergency Alerts, make sure that your device has all the latest software updates installed.
Can I turn off alert reminders?
Android phones and tablets may receive more than one reminder about the same emergency alert.
You can turn these reminders off through the ‘emergency alerts’ settings on your device.
What if I miss the alert?
If you miss the emergency alert, you can still find out about the emergency by visiting gov.uk/alerts.
The website provides the latest information and advice on emergencies in your area.
Are my personal details safe?
No phone number is required from you for government or emergency services to send an alert.
Your device, data, and location information will not be stored or shared.
Key Takeaways
- The Emergency Alert System is a valuable service that can help keep citizens safe during times of danger.
- It is recommended to enable the system on compatible devices and follow the instructions provided in the event of an emergency.
