The government has reminded members of the public to "keep calm and carry on" while the UK's emergency alerts blare out from mobile phones across the nation. Officials from the Cabinet Office National Situation Centre will send out the alert test at 3pm today (Sunday, April 23) and it will be received by every 4G and 5G device in the UK.
A major campaign has been launched to warn as many members of the public as possible about the test, in a bid to prevent panic. In a real emergency, the alarm will sound as an additional tool when there is an imminent risk to life.
However, when the alarm is heard later today - as a siren-like sound no more prominent than the loudest ringtone setting on a mobile phone - the government has reminded people it is just a test. There is no immediate danger and no action needs to be taken. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has called for people to "keep calm and carry on" through the alarm.
Read more: Can you turn off emergency alerts? Instructions for iPhone and Android ahead of government test
Mr Dowden said: "Keep Calm and Carry On – that is the British way and it is exactly what the country will do when they receive this test alert at 3pm today. The Government’s number one job is to keep people safe and this is another tool in the toolkit for emergency situations, such as flooding or wildfires, and where there is a genuine risk to life. So it really is the sound that could save your life.
“I would encourage people to remember that today it is just a test; there is no need to take any action and you can simply swipe it away as you would any other message you receive.”
The test will be sent with mobile broadcasting technology using cell towers, rather than SMS. The government as assured the public it is secure, free to receive, and does not reveal anyone's location or collect personal data. After the alert begins, the noise and vibration will stop automatically after 10 seconds.
It can be stopped manually by swiping the message away or clicking 'OK' on the phone's home screen, like a 'low battery' warning. The phone is then able to be used as normal.
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.”
Emergency alerts have been used successfully in other counties, including the US, Canada, and Japan, and best practice has shown a real emergency alert is more effective if people had previously received a test, so they know what to expect. Similar alerts in these countries have be credited with saving lives in dangerous situations, such as extreme weather events. In the UK, the alerts could warn of severe flooding or wildfires.
Chief Fire Officer for Hertfordshire, and Resilience Lead on the National Fire Chiefs Council, Alex Woodman, said: “Whilst today’s ten second national test may be inconvenient for some, please forgive the intrusion, because the next time you hear the alert, your life and the lifesaving actions of our emergency services could depend on it.
"We must use every tool at our disposal to keep people safe and we need everyone to play their part. The new Emergency Alerts system is one way we can do this.”
The UK government has worked with emergency services and partners - including the FA and London Marathon, which is also taking place today - to ensure the test has minimal impact on events.
National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Civil Contingencies, Assistant Chief Constable Owen Weatherill said: “During times of crises, it’s vital to warn and inform the public at speed.
"We look forward to further developing the use of the Emergency Alerts capability and the way it can protect and preserve life, as well as supporting policing’s wider response to critical incidents with partner agencies. Alongside partners, we will continue to listen carefully to public feedback and ensure the use of Emergency Alerts has a positive impact.”
The system will be used rarely, the government has assured. Alerts will only be sent out if there is an immediate risk to lives, so people may not receive an alert for months or years.
Read next:
