An emergency alert system will ring out on Brit’s mobile phones in upcoming government tests.
Alarm bells sent straight to your mobile will be tested at around 3pm on September 7, in the United Kingdom’s second-ever nationwide drill.
A high-pitched alarm will sound on around 87million mobile devices causing them to vibrate for ten seconds.
A message will appear on the screen making it clear the alert is only a test, and the message has been published in advance to prepare for the drill.
The alert 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.
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‘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.
‘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.’
The alert service is being tested regularly to ensure it still works as intended, to send a text message to mobile phones on both 4G and 5G networks in the UK.
Some Brits complained that some networks didn’t get the alert warning of potential life-threatening danger nearby in April 2023.
The system has already been used in several scenarios, including when lives were put at risk when Storm Eowyn swept the country in January, and when an unexploded World War II bomb was found in Plymouth.
It was also used during Storm Darragh in December 2024, sending alerts to 3.5million people, and during localised flash flooding in Cumbria and Leicestershire.
Tracey Lee, chief executive of Plymouth City Council, said the alert ‘proved to be an invaluable tool during the Keyham bomb operation’.
She added: ‘This was the first time the system had been used in a real emergency, and it played a vital role in helping us safely evacuate over 10,000 people and coordinate a complex, multi-agency response.’
Ahead of the national test, ministers are spearheading a public awareness campaign to ensure people understand when it is taking place.
It will also aim to draw attention of the test to vulnerable groups like those facing domestic abuse, who may have secret mobile phones which they want to remain hidden from their partners.
Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is the Cabinet Office minister who has taken charge of efforts to boost national resilience against crises.
He said: ‘Emergency alerts have the potential to save lives, allowing us to share essential information rapidly in emergency situations including extreme storms.
‘Just like the fire alarm in your house, it’s important we test the system so that we know it will work if we need it.’
People can opt out from the tests by accessing the government website.
A version of this article was first published on July 7, 2025
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