Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now The government is set to test its new emergency alert system later this afternoon. Millions of people will receive a message , accompanied by a loud, siren-like alarm, as the new system is trialled for future use in emergency situations. The public emergency alert system - the first of its kind in the
UK - is intended for use in situations such as flooding and wildfires. Similar systems are already in place in a number of countries around the world, including the
United States, the Netherlands and Japan. The test message will be sent out at 3pm today (Sunday, April 23) and will be accompanied by sound and vibration for up to 10 seconds. Every 4G and 5G phone in the UK will receive the emergency alert test, unless users have turned off emergency alerts in their phone’s settings or have simply turned their device off altogether. We will bring you live updates ahead of the new alert system being tested today. Key Events One hour until alert takes place 14:01 16:26 Alexander Brock People 'worried' after not getting emergency alert The emergency alert test is causing panic among some who say they didn't receive it . People are concerned they may be the "last people to know" in the event of an "actual emergency" in future. You can read more here . Share 15:38 birminghammail.co.uk Reason some didn't get emergency alert test as people realise one thing in common The reason some 4G and 5G phones failed to receive the emergency alert test today has seemingly been revealed. Unconfirmed reports on
Social Media suggest the alert failed to be sent to some Three phones due to an issue with the network. The alert test sounded at 3pm on Sunday. But some on social media complained they hadn't received the loud siren at all - and were now worried for a real future scenario. Read more on this here. Share 15:36 birminghammail.co.uk Some people have not received the alert The alert seems to be a talking point on social media. Some have said the alarm went off while the phone with the person next to them did not. No doubt the government will issue a report into the success of the experiment in due course. Share 15:25 birminghammail.co.uk Watch as commuters at Grand Central Station get the alert at 3pm Share 15:15 birminghammail.co.uk From our reporter at Grand Central Station Quite an eerie moment just now in Birmingham New Street as the alert suddenly blared from the phones of a handful of commuters at random points at around 3pm. No signs of confusion or panic though, everyone is just going about their day without too much worry. Some people swiped the alert away without much consideration. We will have a video of the moment the alert went off shortly. Share 15:12 birminghammail.co.uk Emergency alert test chaos as alarm 'goes off early' causing panic An emergency alert test system in the UK went off early today - in chaotic scenes which panicked users .
Apple and
Android users were left moaning the alert test actually went off at 2.58pm or 2.59pm. "Well it came early - and then my work phone 2 mins after it. Do I have my own time zone?," asked Andrew. John wrote: "OMG just dropped my phone lol! They said the alert would be at 3 & I was waiting for it. It went off at 14:59. Proper let out a little scream & dropped it! @RishiSunak you’ll be paying to get the back of
iPhone repaired. Can’t stop chuckling on how much it made me jump lol!" We have more on this story here. Share 15:05 birminghammail.co.uk What did the message 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. Share 15:03 birminghammail.co.uk Emergency alert is over A distinct sounding alarm went off. On the homescreen a notice appeared saying there was no need to act. The alert lasted for only a few seconds. Some people are saying the alert went off early instead of the 3pm time. Share 15:00 birminghammail.co.uk Emergency alert is done An alarm sounded with a notice on the screen. Share 14:52 birminghammail.co.uk One final notice from West Midlands
fire Service- remember you do not need to act when you get the alert UK Emergency Alerts A national test will be carried out at 3.00pm today. For more information, or to find out how to turn off alerts if you have a concealed phone, visit https://t.co/SQf66O77F0 pic.twitter.com/DLzF8hfY4Y — West Midlands Fire Service (@WestMidsFire) April 23, 2023 Share 14:44 Jayne Thomson 15 minutes to go There are just 15 minutes before the emergency test will take place. Our reporter Alex will be in Birmingham city centre for reaction as it happens. Share 14:34 Alexander Brock 'Keep calm and carry on' Here's a reminder of what the government advised people to do if they receive the emergency alert while driving. "It’s illegal to use a hand-held device while driving or riding.” Oliver Dowden, deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, 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.” Share 14:15 Alexander Brock Women's Aid 'concerned about potential safety risks' With just under an hour to go, here's a reminder of the advice Women's Aid has issued amid concerns over potentially safety risks to abuse victims. Share 14:01 KEY EVENT One hour until alert takes place One hour to go until the government tests its new emergency alert system. You can read everything you need to know about the alert here . Share 13:50 Alexander Brock Do you need to do anything? Phone users will be prompted to acknowledge the alert by swiping or clicking the message before being able to continue using their device. Share 13:37 Alexander Brock Who sends the alerts? Emergency alerts will only be sent by the emergency services or government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies. Share 13:16 Alexander Brock Emergency alert test legal rule everybody must follow Everybody in the UK must follow a legal rule in regards to the emergency alert test on Sunday . A government alert will be issued to every
smartphone at 3pm. But drivers have been warned to ignore the 3pm alert if they hear it in their cars - or otherwise they risk points on their licence. You can read more here . Share 13:02 Alexander Brock Two hours to go Just under two hours to go until the government tests its new emergency alert system. You can read everything you need to know about the alert here . Share 12:30 Alexander Brock What the emergency alert will sound like You can hear what the government's emergency alert will sound like in the video below. Share 12:17 Alexander Brock Exact text of emergency alert test The alert will contain the following text: 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. Share 12:05 Alexander Brock Emergency alert 'could save your life' - deputy PM The UK's deputy prime minister has described the emergency alert being tested later as the sound that could save people's lives. The
BBC reports that Oliver Dowden said: "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." Share 11:57 Alexander Brock Domestic abuse charities issue guidance Domestic violence charities have issued advice ahead of the government’s emergency alert test later today. Millions of mobile phones across the country will receive a test alert message , with sound and vibration lasting for up to 10 seconds. Campaigners have warned that the test at 3pm could put people in abusive situations at risk by alerting their abusers to phones that have been secretly stored. Women’s Aid has issued guidance about the emergency test, explaining how to turn off emergency alerts on your phone. Refuge has also published a video showing people how to turn alerts off on its
YouTube channel. You can read more here . Share 11:47 Alexander Brock Is this emergency alert system unique to the UK? The new emergency alert system is actually modelled on similar systems in other countries including the US,
Canada,
Japan and the Netherlands. It is intended for use in emergency situations to alert people in affected areas. Share 11:34 Alexander Brock Reminder from government The government tweeted this reminder earlier today. Share 11:24 Alexander Brock Can I opt out of the emergency alert test? You can opt out of the emergency alert test by changing your phone’s settings. You can search for ‘emergency alerts’ in your phone’s settings menu and turn off ‘extreme alerts’ and ‘severe alerts’ and then turn them off. Share 11:15 Alexander Brock What will the emergency alert test say? An emergency alert will be sent out by the Government on Sunday afternoon (Image: PA) The message accompanying the test of the new emergency alert system will advise users about how it works and that it is in the process of being introduced. It will also inform them that they do not need to take any further action themselves. “This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby,” the message will read. “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.” Share 11:08 Alexander Brock Warning from campaigners Campaigners have warned that people facing domestic violence may be put at risk by the test, by inadvertently revealing the locations of secretly-stored phones. The government says it has been working with relevant organisations to ensure that the new test system does not jeopardise the safety of vulnerable
Women and girls. Share 11:03 Alexander Brock Who will receive the emergency alert test? The UK Emergency Alert service test will happen at 3pm this afternoon (April 23) (Image: PA) Every 4G and 5G phone in the UK will receive the emergency alert test, unless users have turned off emergency alerts in their phone’s settings or have simply turned their device off altogether. The alert will be accompanied by an alarm-like sound and vibration lasting up to 10 seconds, even if handsets are on silent or vibrate. Share 10:58 Alexander Brock When is the emergency alert test? The government will test its new emergency alert system today (Sunday, April 23) at 3pm. Millions of people across the UK will receive a test message advising them about the new system, but they will not be required to take any action. Share 10:53 Alexander Brock Good morning Morning. We'll be bringing you the latest updates throughout today as the government tests its new emergency alert system later this afternoon. Millions of people will receive a message , accompanied by a loud, siren-like alarm, as the new system is trialled for future use in emergency situations. Share