A UK-wide test of the life-saving public Emergency Alerts system will take place at 3pm on Sunday 23 April 2023.
The test of the new Emergency Alerts system will see people receive a Message on 4G and 5G mobile phones, along with sound and vibration for up to 10 seconds.
For the test, the public does not need to take any action - the sound and vibration will stop automatically after ten seconds. All people need to do is swipe away the message or click ‘OK’ on their phone’s home screen - just like for a ‘low battery’ warning or notification - and continue to use their phone as normal.
Emergency Alerts enable urgent messages to be broadcast to a defined area when there is an imminent risk to life, such as wildfires or severe flooding.
You can find out further information on Emergency Alerts, including what they look and sound like at About Emergency Alerts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)