topic Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm in Welcome & News

Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

Chris_K — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 12:34:58 GMT

Emergency Alerts is a new government service that will warn you if there is a danger to life nearby (e.g. flooding, fire). In an emergency, mobile phone masts will broadcast an alert in the affected area. The alert will automatically be received by compatible mobile phones and tablets in the area and will give advice about how to stay safe.

On Sunday 23^rd April at 3pm the government will be sending a UK-wide Emergency Alerts test message to all compatible devices. The message will make clear that no action is required, that the message is simply a test and will provide a link where you can find further information on the Emergency Alerts service.

When you receive the message, your phone or tablet may vibrate and make a loud siren-like sound for about ten seconds, even if it is set on ‘silent’. The message will appear on your screen.

You can opt out of receiving Emergency Alerts by adjusting your device settings, though the government advice is to keep them switched on for your own safety.

Emergency Alerts work on all 4G and 5G mobile networks in the UK. Emergency Alerts can only be sent by the emergency services and by government departments that deal with emergencies. They do not need your phone number to send you an alert – if your device is compatible, it will automatically receive the message. Data about you, your device or location will not be collected or shared.

You will not receive Emergency Alerts if your device is switched off, on airplane mode or connected to a 2G or 3G network.

Useful Links & Info

More information on Emergency Alerts can be found at gov.uk/alerts.
We have more information on our website around how emergency alerts work, when you'll receive them, as well as some Q&A's
See the videos below showing what the alert will look and sound like, as well as an explainer video from the Government

Here's an explainer video from the UK Gov explaining more and how the technology works

Here's what the alert will look and sound like

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

Pipstop78 — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 20:53:40 GMT

I heard about this think it's a good idea

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

Chris_K — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 12:50:59 GMT

@Pipstop78 wrote:

I heard about this think it's a good idea

I do too. I've seen some challenges from folk saying things like 'what will an alert tell me that I won't already know from the news?' and in response, I'd maybe suggest viewing these alerts as an additional layer of information, and one that could be critical for specific situations in the future.

As an example, consider you could be in a busy town center and you're headed towards an incident right around the corner at a tube or train station. This might become breaking news on BBC and send a notification to your phone, but everyone knows how easy it can be to miss or ignore a notification especially when you're out and about or commuting to work. With these emergency alerts, because of the sound emitted it's highly unlikely you'll miss or ignore it - so in viewing the alert you'll have information you wouldn't have had otherwise and that information could end up saving yours and others lives.

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

Cleoriff — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 13:26:48 GMT

@Chris_K

I heard something on the news today which made my mouth drop open! A pub in Hereford has banned Mobile phones on Sunday 23rd. Their spokesman said 'We serve a Carvery on Sundays and people don't want to be disturbed by this alert, when eating Sunday lunch/!!

How ridiculous!!😂

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

pgn — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 13:30:55 GMT

People in an abusive relationship have been asked to ensure their hidden mobile, if they have one, is switched off either side of the test to be sure the location of the hidden phone is not revealed to the other partner in the relationship.

Whoa!

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

pgn — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 09:11:34 GMT

I have a SIM in an older phone showing "Emergency calls only" - wonder if that one will blare at 3pm today too?

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

Enlli — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 13:02:51 GMT

Waiting to see what happens on my dual SIM phone with both SIM Cards active for calls.

I assume it will come via the one using data.

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

Luke30 — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 13:18:10 GMT

I've turned it off on my mobile phone.

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

madasaf1sh — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 14:00:24 GMT

Well that was ***** annoying, forgot on my work phone to turn it off...

What an annoying racket

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

pgn — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 14:03:14 GMT

Hmm. A tad early, but hey - better ahead of time than never 😖

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

AlixV — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 15:09:52 GMT

I didn’t receive the emergency alert. I have an iPhone connected to O2, am fully up to date with the software updates (16.4.1), and have the emergency alert notifications enabled. Very odd… and a little worrying! What would happen if it was a real emergency? 🤷‍♀️

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

pgn — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 15:17:27 GMT

Are you sure you have not disabled the alerts unintentionally, @AlixV?

Here is where to look on your iPhone:

" To disable alerts on an iPhone, go to the settings menu and press through to notifications. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and you will see an emergency alerts section, with Extreme Alerts and Severe Alerts. You can toggle between on and off using the button on the right-hand side."

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

AlixV — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 15:44:02 GMT

Yes, I am sure the alerts are enabled. I did check that and they are all switched on… Only other thing I can think of is that O2 had a network issue in my area at the time? Who knows!

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

pgn — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 15:49:38 GMT

@AlixV wrote:
Yes, I am sure the alerts are enabled. I did check that and they are all switched on… Only other thing I can think of is that O2 had a network issue in my area at the time? Who knows!

Could be, @AlixV - O2 page for service should say that if so - link here: https://status.o2.co.uk/

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

AlixV — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 15:55:52 GMT

Thanks for the link. Checked for my postcode and it says good 4G coverage with no issues noted… who knows why I didn’t get it… I guess that’s the reason they test these things though! 😊

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

pgn — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 16:15:24 GMT

@AlixV wrote:
Thanks for the link. Checked for my postcode and it says good 4G coverage with no issues noted… who knows why I didn’t get it… I guess that’s the reason they test these things though! 😊

True - but no use if there is no way to let them know you did not receive the alert despite having alerts reception enabled in your phone and being in an area where no service disruptions were active. So it goes.

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

AlixV — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 16:29:22 GMT

Very true - not sure how the government will review the test and check whether the coverage was good. If there is a bad weather emergency, it could well be that there isn’t good 4G or 5G signal which could mean a lot of people in a local area not getting the alert… but, hey ho, I guess they are thinking of these things! 🤞

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

MFreeman — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 16:45:33 GMT

I didn't get an alert either, but there again my phone's a (still working otherwise) 6+ on IoS 12.5.7.

Like the Covid tracker app, this Government can't be bothered to design for those who keep their (expensive for the environment) 'phones until they stop working, rather than go for the "latest thing".

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

madasaf1sh — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 17:24:10 GMT

IOS 12.5 could be the issue, as it is no longer a supported OS from Apple.

I also think as a test it was not meant to hit 100% of devices, as usually when testing you build in a number of devices who get nothing, to test failures a bit like A and B testing.

Re: Emergency Alert Test: Sunday 23rd April at 3pm

Enlli — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 17:37:20 GMT

I see Three are asking people to get in touch if they did not get an alert.