An emergency alert system will ring out on Brit’s mobile phones in upcoming Government tests.
Alarm bells sent straight to your mobile will be tested at around 3pm on September 7, in the United Kingdom’s second-ever nationwide drill.
The test comes after Brits complained that some networks didn’t get the alert warning of potential life-threatening danger nearby in April 2023.
A high-pitched alarm will sound on around 87 million mobile devices causing them to vibrate for ten seconds.
A message will appear on the screen making it clear the alert is only a test.
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The system has already been used in several scenarios – including storms, flooding and in one case when an unexploded Second World War bomb was discovered.
Ahead of the national test, ministers are spearheading a public awareness campaign to ensure people understand when it is taking place.
It will also aim to draw attention of the test to vulnerable groups like those facing domestic abuse, who may have secret mobile phones which they want to remain hidden from their partners.
Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is the Cabinet Office minister who has taken charge of efforts to boost national resilience against crises.
Speaking as the Government announced the test is to take place, he said: ‘Emergency alerts have the potential to save lives, allowing us to share essential information rapidly in emergency situations including extreme storms.
‘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.’
Some five alerts have been issued since the system was first created.
These included when 3.5 million people across Wales and the South West of England received an alert during Storm Darragh in December 2024, which went on to kill two people.
Localised flash flooding in Cumbria and Leicestershire, and the discovery of a Second World War bomb in Plymouth in February 2024, also triggered the alert for nearby residents.
Tracey Lee, chief executive of Plymouth City Council, said the alert ‘proved to be an invaluable tool during the Keyham bomb operation’.
She added: ‘This was the first time the system had been used in a real emergency, and it played a vital role in helping us safely evacuate over 10,000 people and coordinate a complex, multi-agency response.’
People can opt out from the tests by accessing the Government website.