The UK is set to test its Emergency Alerts system next weekend, with every phone in the country set to sound a loud siren at the same time.
All mobile phones connected to either 4G or 5G networks will emit the loud noise as part of the first test of the alert system since 2023, with a siren sounding for up to 10 seconds to test the nation’s readiness for a major emergency.
UK residents can expect the test to take place at exactly 3pm on Sunday, September 7, with phones expected to also vibrate as a text message is delivered. This will make clear that the alert is just a drill.
This alert system has been used five times in the past, with the Government sending warnings to people in January durimg Storm Eowyn, with residents in Scotland and Northern Ireland sent localised messages about extreme weather. The Sun reports that 3.5 million were issued alerts in December, 2024, after Storm Darragh lashed Wales and the South West.
The nationwide alerts system is designed for use in the most likely emergencies to affect the UK, such as flooding and wildfires, but has also been used to warn residents when an unexploded World War Two bomb was found in Plymouth last year.
Last week, the full text of the test message was revealed for the first time, saying: “This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby.
“You do not need to take any action. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.
“Find simple and effective advice on how to prepare for emergencies at gov.uk/prepare.”
Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, 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.”
