A second test of the UK’s national Emergency Alert will be conducted on Sunday 7 September at around 3pm.
The alarm system which would be used during major emergencies and it works by sending a loud siren-like sound to mobile phones for up to 10 seconds. The sound will be accompanied by vibration on 4G and 5G networks and a text message which 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 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 was used successfully during Storm Éowyn earlier this year, issuing a warning about the 100mph winds. It delivered a direct and unmissable instruction for people to stay indoors, providing clear guidance amid forecasts of 100mph winds and the threat of flying debris.
Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, said: “It is absolutely vital that people get prompt and accurate information in any emergency. Earlier this year, millions of Scots received a UK Government emergency alert that provided a clear warning about the threat from Storm Éowyn.
“To ensure this critical system continues to work effectively, we will run a UK-wide test on Sunday 7 September at around 3pm. This will be one of the biggest public safety exercises in our nation’s history, and testing it now is about making sure it works for everyone, right across Scotland and the whole of the UK.”
The test follows a UK Government commitment to regularly check the system to ensure it works optimally and to familiarise the public with the alerts. This approach is in line with standard practice in countries with established alert systems, such as Japan and the USA.
