UK's Emergency Alert System to be sent to phones again in nationwide test

[6Foot2]

Link: UK's Emergency Alert System to be sent to phones again in nationwide test | UK News | Sky News

 

The nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS), which sends alerts through mobile phones, will be tested later this year.

 

The EAS causes phones and tablets to vibrate, read the alert aloud and emit a loud siren-like sound, even if the device is on silent.

 

It is typically used to warn individuals about severe flooding, fires and extreme weather.

 

The test comes as senior government officials and the emergency services will take part in a multi-day pandemic preparedness exercise, as ministers aim to bolster the UK against future threats like COVID-19.

 

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said the government plans to train thousands of people to be better prepared for crises like pandemics. It is expected to be held on different days over several months in the autumn, and will involve thousands of participants across the UK - including all government departments, local councils, emergency services and the devolved authorities.

 

Vulnerable groups, including elderly and disabled people disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, will also be provided with more support.

 

There is no exact date yet for when the government plans to test the EAS alarm, but it is expected to be later this year.

 

How does the EAS work?

 

The system uses mobile phone masts in local areas to broadcast an alert to every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range.

 

Devices do not have to be connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi to get it.

 

The alert lasts for around 10 seconds, and the government website recommends people keep them switched on for their own safety.

 

If people don't wish to receive them, they can opt by searching "emergency alerts" in settings and turning off the notification.

 

When were the last alerts?

 

The alert has been deployed four times since it was launched in 2023.

 

The most recent alert was issued by the Environment Agency on 6 January 2025 to warn people at caravan parks near Barrow upon Soar in Leicestershire that the River Soar was likely to flood and cut the area off.

 

Before that, on 6 December 2024, areas around Wales and southwest England were issued a warning for extremely strong winds due to Storm Darragh.

 

The alert system was even used by Plymouth City Council to warn locals that a World War Two bomb was going to be transported through the streets after being found in a local garden.

[6Foot2]

Link: UK emergency alert to be tested for second time in September - BBC News

 

Quote

The national system for sending emergency alerts to mobile phones in the UK will be tested again this September, the government has said.

 

It will see compatible phones vibrate and make a siren sound for 10 seconds while displaying a message at 15:00 BST on 7 September, even if they are set to silent...

 

[machy]

the responses to this on social media have been hilarious and predictable 

[Rob_D]

Cool, hopefully it will actually come through to my phone this time.

  

[Olliedawg]

In the past i've never received any of the test alerts

[mikes]

I got them last time, was in my friends car, late at night then that spooky "Cod 4" warning sound came through.  That sound almost seems fake or like a meme as it's usually been something you see in US media so we were very confused when it started happening the first time.

[NegativeKillDeath]

Its a shame its not during lesson times. It would be funny for classrooms full of yondr pouches all going off at the same time.

[sideone]

At least its at a reasonable time. The last one came through as I was putting the children to bed, cheers then.

[Rob_D]

6 minutes ago, sideone said:

The last one came through as I was putting the children to bed, cheers then.

Didn't the last test get pushed back because of the football?

[pete]

Odds they'll send the correct message?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Hawaii_false_missile_alert

[6Foot2]

Link: Public testing of the Emergency Alerts system - GOV.UK

 

Quote

Public testing of the Emergency Alerts system

Upcoming national test on 7 September 2025

 

The government will be carrying out a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts system on 7 September 2025 at 3pm.

 

The test alert will be sent to all compatible 4G and 5G mobile phones and compatible tablets across the UK.

 

This follows the first successful national test in April 2023...

 

[MrEprise]

If it was supposed to work, it really didn't for my Mum and I.

 

My current phone is a Samsung Galaxy A52 5G (which also supports 4G) and nothing happened. My Mum has a relatively new-ish Galaxy S which also supports 4G and that didn't get the alert either. These are set to use any available network standard where possible so I don't understand why they didn't work. We're not opted out of the alerts either.

 

I also have an older Nokia 6.1 knocking around which I can't bear to be rid of and this has LTE rather than full 4G. It did receive the alert, but because it was set to vibrate, all it did was vibrate when the alert came in.

 

Come 'Global Thermonuclear War' and we'll be entirely oblivious to it!

[6Foot2]

9 minutes ago, MrEprise said:

If it was supposed to work, it really didn't for my Mum and I.

 

You were not alone:

 

Link: Brits despair as nationwide emergency alert fails to go off for thousands | News UK | Metro News

[Andrew_C]

Got it ten minutes late.

 

AND!!  Don't we have any English robots?  Why does it have to be an American voice??!!

[gshaw]

On 08/07/2025 at 11:26, mikes said:

I got them last time, was in my friends car, late at night then that spooky "Cod 4" warning sound came through.  That sound almost seems fake or like a meme as it's usually been something you see in US media so we were very confused when it started happening the first time.

 

Yup also thought the same when my phone went off with the American EBS sound, last time I heard that it was announcing a "state of emergency due to a disaster of unknown type at the Black Mesa Research Facility" so the flashback made me do a double-take 😂