Karmactive Staff
Your phone will make a loud siren noise on Sunday, September 7, as the UK government tests its emergency warning system for the second time.
At 3:00 pm, compatible mobile phones across the country will sound an alarm for about 10 seconds and vibrate, even if set to silent mode. A message will appear making it clear this is just a test, with no action needed from the public.
The Emergency Alerts system was first tested nationwide in April 2023 and has since been used five times in real emergencies. The system warns people when there is danger to life nearby, such as extreme weather or other serious threats.
“Emergency Alerts have the potential to save lives, allowing us to share essential information rapidly in emergency situations including extreme storms,” said Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. “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.”
During January 2025’s Storm Éowyn, around 4.5 million people in Scotland and Northern Ireland received alerts warning of life-threatening conditions. The system was also used during Storm Darragh in December 2024, which sent warnings to 3.5 million people across Wales and Southwest England. That storm went on to kill two people.
Other real-world uses include warning residents about an unexploded World War II bomb discovered in Plymouth, which helped evacuate 10,000 people, and alerting people to flash flooding in Cumbria and Leicestershire.
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The test is part of the government’s wider Resilience Action Plan, which includes £1bn for National Biosecurity Centres and £4.2 billion for new flood defenses.
Only phones connected to 4G or 5G networks will receive the alert. The UK has approximately 87 million mobile phones. However, devices that are turned off, in airplane mode, or connected to older 2G or 3G networks won’t get the message.
The government has created special resources for vulnerable groups, including British Sign Language videos explaining the test. People concerned about the alert, such as domestic abuse victims with concealed phones, can opt out by turning off severe and extreme alerts in their phone settings.
To switch off alerts on iPhones, go to Settings, then Notifications, scroll to the bottom and turn off severe and extreme alerts. On Android phones, search settings for “emergency alerts” and turn off the options.
Unlike some systems in other countries, the UK’s Emergency Alerts doesn’t collect personal data or track location. Japan and the United States run similar systems, with some countries like Finland testing monthly while others like Germany test annually.
During the 2023 test, about 7% of compatible devices didn’t receive the alert due to technical problems with some mobile networks. The government promised to fix these issues before future tests.
