On September 7, the UK will conduct a trial of the national Emergency Alerts system, which will send out a loud message to mobile phones and tablets nationwide. The test alert is expected to last for about 10 seconds and aims to prepare for future emergency situations, such as severe weather events.
While these alerts are essential, it is important to consider the potential risks they pose to vulnerable individuals, particularly survivors of abuse who may possess hidden phones. Women’s Aid, a domestic violence charity, recently advised survivors on how to opt out of receiving these emergency alerts by adjusting their phone settings.
The upcoming emergency alert will involve a loud siren, message, and vibration being sent to all compatible phones, even those on silent mode, which could inadvertently jeopardize abuse survivors with hidden phones. The test on September 7 serves as a precautionary measure to alert the public about potential hazards like wildfires, flooding, and storms that may occur in the future.
Notably, the Government does not require personal information like phone numbers or locations to issue these alerts. The alerts are location-based and do not necessitate enabling location services. When triggered, a compatible device will emit a loud siren, vibrate, or read the message aloud.
Although no action is needed during the upcoming test, future alerts may provide specific instructions. However, the Government advises against reading or responding to emergency alerts while driving and suggests finding a safe place to stop before doing so. Emergency alerts will supplement but not replace information from local news, radio, television, or social media.
Most emergency alerts in the UK will be in English, with Welsh translations available in Wales. Individuals with vision or hearing impairments can enable audio and vibration signals for accessibility notifications on their devices to receive emergency alerts.
For further details on the UK’s emergency alerts, visit the GOV.UK website.