The government has shared fresh details ahead of an emergency alert which will see millions of phones sound a 10-second alarm. At about 3pm on Sunday, September 7 the government is carrying out a test across the UK to ensure it works during a triue emergency.
After the first test in 2023, alerts have been sent out on five occasions during 2024 and 2025 when the government has stepped in to protect lives. These include 50,000 people in Plymouth who were alerted about an evacuation after a World War II bomb was found in February 2024, and all phones in Scotland and Northern Ireland (about 4-5 million) who were informed about the dangers of Storm Eowyn in January this year.
Labour Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said: “On Sunday, September 7, we will hold a UK-wide test of the Emergency Alerts system to ensure it works when we need it most. It is a vital tool for keeping the nation safe when lives are on the line – and every minute matters.
“During Storm Darragh and Storm Eowyn, as millions faced dangerous extreme weather, I saw first-hand how effective it was at getting life-saving advice to at-risk communities in an instant. 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 government clarified that the telecoms network used to send the messages runs on an independent power supply, so people should still be able to get alerts if there is a power cut or widespread blackout.
Some MPs have called on ministers to use different modes of communication for the alert in order to ensure it reaches people who do not have access to a phone. Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokeswoman Sarah Olney has suggested the Government follows Scandinavian examples where the public have been handed pamphlets about preparing for emergencies.
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