April emergency alert test from the government | Mencap

April emergency alert test from the government

A group of people look at their mobile phones. Behind them is a red box with a triangle warning symbol with text that reads UK Emergency Alert System

The government is testing an emergency alert service in April.

Images of mobile phones and tablets with a large red cross and the word ALERT behind them.

The emergency alerts will be sent to all mobile phones and tablets.

April 23

The test alert messages will be sent on Sunday April 23 at 3pm.

A mobile phone with the emergency alert test message on the screen.

The message will say:

This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby.

In an actual emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.

Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information.

This is a test. You do not need to take any action.

A woman with her arms folded smiles at the camera.

You do not need to do anything because this message is just a test.

What are emergency alerts?

Text reads ALERT with a red cross underneath

Emergency alerts warn you if there is danger near where you are.

Two women look at a mobile phone. Behind them is a red box with a triangle warning symbol with text that reads UK Emergency Alert System.

The emergency alert will be sent to your mobile phone or tablet.

It will give you advice about how to stay safe.

A man sits in an armchair and looks at his phone, above him is a red box with a triangle warning symbol with text that reads UK Emergency Alert System

The emergency alerts will send warnings about things like:

A house with water rising up to the door

Bad flooding

Graphic of a red, yellow and orange flame.

fires

A woman holds her hand to her head. She looks hot and there is a graphic of the sun above her.

weather that can be dangerous for some people.

A mobile phone with the emergency alert test message on the screen.

When you get an emergency alert your mobile phone or tablet might:

A mobile phone with red lines representing a loud sound coming out from either side of it

Make a loud noise, even if it is set to silent

A mobile phone with lighter versions of the same phone and zig zag lines representing movement

vibrate

A mobile phone with a speech bubble reading the text from the screen

read out the alert.

Text reads 10 seconds with 10 red lines and 50 grey lines arranged in a circle

The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds.

A mobile phone with an emergency alert message on the screen

You can see what the emergency alert looks and sounds like in this video.

A laptop computer with the word click on the screen.

You can learn more about the emergency alerts on the government's website.

Turning the emergency alerts off

A man points at a red cross on a board, with a green tick below it.

You can choose to not have the emergency alert messages come up on your phone or tablet.

A mobile phone with Emergency Settings on the screen

To turn them off you need to find Emergency Alerts in your phone or tablet settings.

Close up of a mobile phone screen with a red box around emergency alert settings

Then turn off the severe alerts and extreme alerts.

A switched off mobile phone with a red cross over an emergency alert message

If your phone is switched off or set to aeroplane mode you will not get the emergency alert message.