A new mobile alert system is being tested, which should beep on people’s mobile phones to warn them of impending danger.
A test run of the new management system will take place across the UK on April 23, and all residents of the country will receive a test alert on their mobile phones.
The government says the technology will enable it to respond more effectively to emergencies such as floods and wildfires.
Cabinet Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “This will revolutionize our ability to warn and inform people who are in immediate danger and help us keep people safe. As we have seen in the US and other countries, ringing the phone can save a life.”
When developing the tool, consultations were held with rescue services, traffic authorities and the environmental service.
The US, Canada, Japan and the Netherlands already have similar systems in place to warn people of extreme weather.
A similar warning system in Hawaii famously caused mass hysteria during a test in 2018, when local residents accidentally received messages warning them that a ballistic missile was heading towards the islands and “this is not an exercise.”
It has also been used in other US states to alert the public to police curfews and when stay-at-home orders were issued early in the Covid pandemic.
What happens when you receive an emergency notification on your phone?
Outside of the upcoming test, the UK government’s alerts will only be activated in the event of an imminent threat to life.
In rare cases of emergency, you will receive a pop-up message on your phone along with a 10 second siren that will also sound when it is disabled.
You must confirm that you have seen the notification before you can use other features. The message may include phone numbers to call in case of an emergency, as well as links to additional information about the event.
If you are driving, wait until you find a safe place to stop before attempting to read or reply to a message.
During the test on 23 April, the alert read: “This is a test run by Emergency Alerts, the UK’s new public service, to alert you in the event of a life-threatening emergency.
“In this emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to protect yourself and others. Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information.
“This is a test. You don’t have to do anything.”
In Wales, the message is also displayed in Welsh.
It will stop automatically after 10 seconds – to remove it, users simply need to acknowledge the warning and take no further action.
Can I unsubscribe?
You can turn off emergency notifications at any time in your phone settings.
On an iPhone, it’s under Settings, then Notifications – with toggles at the bottom to turn off Extreme Alerts and Severe Alerts.
Found on Android Switch. Emergency notifications can be found in Settings, then Notifications, then Wireless Emergency Notifications.
Does the system collect personal data?
NO. The system is connected to the same cell tower as the cell phone. When an alarm is triggered, all nearby towers receive it. No specific locations or personal information is required from individuals.
Warnings come only from the government and emergency services. No one else can use or access it.
Can you access it if you don’t have a smartphone?
Notifications work across all 4G and 5G phone networks. Old “non-smartphones” are not included as the 3G technology they use will be shut down next year. The government said people would be informed differently if they don’t have a compatible device.
Source: I News
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