Government issues update over emergency alert message this weekend

The Government has clarified who will get an emergency alert test message this weekend. The trial message will go out to millions of people on Sunday, September 7, at 3pm.

Mobile devices connected to 4G and 5G networks will hear the siren-like sound and will receive a message to inform the user this is just a test event.

The emergency alert system came in from 2023 to warn people in a certain area of an immediate danger to life, such as flooding or a wildfire. Conservative MP Andrew Snowden asked the Government about what steps are being taken to ensure the service is available to people who are visually or hearing impaired.

Cabinet minister Abena Oppong-Asare issued a response. She said: "We have ensured that the Emergency Alerts system works with voice reader software. This means that everyone who already has this and all other accessibility settings enabled on their phones should have the alert read out to them."

The minister spoke about some of the other measures put in place to ensure those with disabilities will get the message. She explained: "As part of the communications campaign, we have developed a British Sign Language information video explaining the upcoming national test.

"We have also engaged with disability groups, including the Royal National Institute of Blind People, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People and Mencap. These charities conducted engagement campaigns to reach individuals with visual impairments to help them understand more about the alerts."

There was previously a trial event in April 2023 and since then, the emergency alerts have gone out in real life, such as during Storm Darragh in December 2024. Mr Snowden asked separately about what lessons were learnt from the previous event and how they would be applied this time.

Ms Oppong-Asare also provided a Government response to this question. She said: "The Government is committed to improving the Emergency Alerts system as it serves a crucial purpose helping to save lives in emergency situations by issuing an alert to all compatible mobile phones."

She explained that after the scheme launched in 2023, there was an initial 12-month evaluation of how effective the system was. The minister said: "This analysis allowed the Government to assess the benefit of emergency alerts during life-threatening emergencies.

"Following this evaluation lessons have been taken after each activation of emergency alerts to ensure any necessary changes or technical improvements are made to improve the system."