A siren-like emergency warning message will be sent by the government to mobile phone users across the UK next month to test a new public alert system.
The system – modelled after similar schemes in the US, Canada, the Netherlands and Japan – is intended to be used in life-threatening situations including flooding and wildfires. Phone users will be unable to use other features on their devices unless they acknowledge the alert, due to be sent on Sunday April 23.
The alerts on St George’s Day will appear on the home screens of people’s phones, accompanied by a loud warning sound and vibration. The scheme will initially focus on the most serious severe weather-related events, with the ability to get a message to 90% of mobile users within the relevant area in an emergency.
