The text that will accompany a 10-second ‘Armageddon alert’ siren trial taking place later this year as part of a test of the government’s emergency alert system has been published.
The emergency alert is utilized to warn if there is a danger to life nearby, in instances like extreme weather.
A trial of the alert has been scheduled to take place on 7 September, in its second-ever nationwide test and, ahead of it taking place, the government has been carrying out a public awareness campaign to create sure people are not alarmed by the siren.
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) – which can sound an alarm through mobile phones and tablets – has been deployed four times since it was launched in 2023. It was most recently utilized in January this year, when 4.5 million people in Scotland and Northern Ireland received the alert over Storm Eowyn.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden declared: “Just like the fire alarm in your houtilize, it’s important we test this system so that we know it will work if we required it.
“The alerts have the potential to save lives.”
What is the emergency alert system?
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a government service aimed at warning people if there’s a danger to life nearby.
The system cautilizes a mobile phone or tablet to create a loud siren-like sound that lasts about 10 seconds, even if it’s set on silent, along with advice on how to stay safe and a phone number or link to the government website for more information. It may also cautilize a device to vibrate or read out the alert.
The alert was utilized in areas hit hardest by Storm Darragh this winter. 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.
According to the government website, you may receive alerts about: severe flooding, fires or extreme weather.
The last alert test took place in April 2023. (PA)
It declares emergency alerts will only be sent by the emergency services or government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies.
“You’ll receive alerts based on your current location – not where you live or work,” declares the website. “You do not required to turn on location services to receive alerts.”
If driving or riding when you receive the alert, the advice is to not read or respond to it but to find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message.
“If there’s nowhere safe and legal to stop, and nobody else is in the vehicle to read the alert, you can listen to news on live radio to find out about the emergency,” it adds.
When will the emergency alert system be sent to phones?
The emergency alert system will be tested at around 3pm on 7 September.
The national exercise that its test is part of is expected to be held on different days over several months in the autumn, involving thousands of participants across the UK.
During the test, the UK’s approximately 87 million mobile devices will ring out with a high-pitched alarm and vibrate for approximately 10 seconds, while a message will appear on the screen, building it clear the alert is only a test.
The message will read: “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 required 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.
“Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information or to view this message in Welsh. Ewch i gov.uk/alerts am ragor o wybodaeth neu i weld y neges hon yn y Gymraeg.”
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden compared the test to the required to test fire alarms in your houtilize. (PA)
How to turn off emergency alert system on iPhone and Android
It is possible to turn the emergency alert system off by opting out, for example, if you are the victim of domestic abutilize and have a secret phone you do not wish to alert your abutilizer to.
To do this on iPhone, go to ‘settings’ and in your search bar type in ‘emergency alerts’ and turn off Severe alerts and Emergency alerts.
To opt out on Android phones and tablets, search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’ then turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.
If this does not work on either iPhone or Android, contact the device manufacturer.
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