The test emergency text message will go out to millions of mobile phones
The Government has issued a statement as a test emergency text alert is to go out to millions of people. The trial emergency alert is scheduled to be sent out at 3pm on Sunday, September 7. Mobile phones and tablets linked to 4G and 5G networks will emit a loud alarm-like noise and vibrate, accompanied by a message confirming this is just a test.
These emergency messages are designed to inform people in a particular location about an immediate danger they need to know about. They can be sent out to warn people of emergencies such as severe flooding or wildfires.
This isn’t the first occasion such messages have been dispatched to test the UK’s Emergency Alerts system. There was previously a trial event on April 23, 2023, which also went out at 3pm.
With the next trial date approaching, Conservative MP Andrew Snowden asked the Government if it had evaluated how effectively the previous trial performed and “what lessons will be applied” to the forthcoming test event.
In response, Cabinet minister Abena Oppong-Asare said: “The Government is committed to improving the Emergency Alerts system as it serves a crucial purpose helping to save lives in emergency situations by issuing an alert to all compatible mobile phones.”
The emergency message scheme began in 2023. The minister said there was an initial 12-month assessment period, running from April 2023 to April 2024, during which the Government tested “the effectiveness of the system”.
Ms Oppong-Asare said: “This analysis allowed the Government to assess the benefit of emergency alerts during life-threatening emergencies. Following this evaluation lessons have been taken after each activation of emergency alerts to ensure any necessary changes or technical improvements are made to improve the system.”
The emergency alerts have been deployed in real-world situations on several occasions, including in December 2024, to warn three million residents across Wales and parts of southern England during Storm Darragh.
Information on the Government website regarding the forthcoming test states: “Regular testing ensures the system is functioning correctly, should it be needed in an emergency. The test is not intended to alert you to real danger and you will not need to take any further action.”