Tens of millions of people are to receive an emergency alert this weekend as part of a test by the UK government.
This trial aims to improve and check the UK’s readiness to alert the public in the event of an emergency.
The emergency alert will be tested at 3:00PM on Sunday, September 7, and will take the form of a loud alarm sound and vibration on mobile phones and tablets that are linked to 4G and 5G networks.
Why is this UK government emergency alert test taking place?
The emergency alerts are designed to alert the population that there is an incident in their area - broadly speaking a natural disaster such as flooding or a wildfire.
No, it's not a World War Three prep scenario, although in theory it could be used to alert the public to impending danger of that nature.
This isn’t the first time that the UK government - or even the US government - has conducted a test like this, with the most recent taking place on April 23, also at 3:00PM.
Be thankful it is only a loud noise and vibration though, as it could be worse.
In Japan, a novel approach to disaster preparedness was taken when the government released a 'terrifying' AI video showing what might happen if Mount Fuji were to erupt.
As the next trial date approaches, Conservative MP Andrew Snowden asked the government if it knew what the effect of the previous trial was, as well as asking ‘what lessons will be applied’ following this next alarm test.
Cabinet minister Abena Oppong-Asare responded: "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."
This initiative was started under the Conservative UK government in 2023, starting out with a 12-month assessment between April 2023 and April 2024 to test the ‘effectiveness of the system’.
Oppong-Asare added: “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."
When have the emergency alerts been used in real-life scenarios?
On a number of occasions, the emergency alert system has been used in real-world scenarios to alert the public to serious danger.
In December 2024, Storm Darragh swept through the UK and three million people in southern England and Wales were alerted to potential danger via the emergency alert system.
On the official UK government website, information about the system 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.”