Description
The new emergency alert system will be used to warn people about events like extreme weather conditions. The alerts will be used to notify people of threats to life, such as flooding. The government has launched a new emergency alert system that will send a siren-like alert to mobile phones.
The system will give government and emergency services the ability to send a message directly to mobile phones in the event of life-threatening situations. When your device receives the alert, it vibrates and emits a loud siren-like sound for up to 10 seconds.
The siren will be accompanied by a notification on your home screen, which you will need to acknowledge before you can use any other features. The notification may include telephone numbers or links to websites with additional information.
The new system, which will go live on Sunday, April 23, is expected to enable government and emergency services to quickly deliver urgent messages to nearly 90% of cell phones in a defined area. Any compatible device within range will receive the message.
Alerts can only be sent by authorized government and emergency services users. Alerts will always include details of the affected area and provide instructions on how best to respond, including links to gov.uk/alerts, which will provide additional information.
The messages will be transmitted from cell phone towers close to the emergency, ensuring that they are safe, free and one-way. People's privacy will not be affected as alerts do not reveal anyone's location or collect personal data.
Members of the public should receive the alert approximately 4-10 seconds after it is sent. By contrast, SMS messages can take days to send when sent to the general population and will not be received by people outside of the UK.
People who do not want to receive these alerts can turn them off in their device settings. The system has already been successfully tested in East Suffolk and Reading, ahead of the planned national trial. A survey of people after testing revealed that 88% wanted to receive the alerts in the future.
Emergency alerts will be used very rarely as they will only be sent in case of immediate risk to people's lives. Many people may not receive messages for months or years at a time. Initially, they will focus on the most severe weather incidents, including floods and potential forest fires.
Flood waters surround Bathampton, located next to the River Avon, which has overflowed.
Announcing the launch of the system, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Dowden MP, said: "We are strengthening our national resilience with a new emergency alert system, to deal with a wide range of threats, from floods to fires forestry.
“It will revolutionize our ability to warn and inform people in immediate danger and help us keep people safe. As we have seen in the United States and elsewhere, the buzz of a phone can save a life.
National Council of Fire Chiefs President Mark Hardingham also welcomed the launch of the system. “Together with all fire and rescue services across the country, I look forward to having emergency alerts available to help us do our jobs and help communities in the event of an emergency.
“We have seen this type of system in action in other parts of the world and look forward to having it installed here in the UK. Working with the fire services and our partners, we want this system to help us help you to be as safe as possible. you can if a crisis hits.
The United States, Canada, the Netherlands, and Japan have successfully implemented and used similar systems. Alerts have been widely recognized as saving lives. However, the US state of Hawaii caused widespread panic on January 13, 2018 when it accidentally sent an alert warning of an incoming ballistic missile to televisions, radios, and cell phones. Officials blamed miscommunication during an exercise at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.
You can see what the alerts look like at gov.uk/alerts.
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