UK's emergency alert system
There will be a national test of the UK’s new Emergency Alerts system on Sunday April 23rd at 15:00.
The test alert will be sent to most mobile phones across the UK. Devices will make a distinct, siren-like sound for up to 10 seconds, including on phones switched to silent mode. Phones will also vibrate and display a message about the test. You can hear an example of what the test will look and sound like in our explainer video.
As a member of the resilience community, we would like you to consider communicating the details of the upcoming national test of the UK’s Emergency Alerts system across your internal and external channels. Our aim is to alert the country to the test and reassure them that no action needs to be taken. We would be grateful if you could share news of the test across your community, include our copy in your newsletters, post on social media, verbally mention the test in key meetings and print off leaflets to leave in public spaces.
Content on the Emergency Alert system is now available in a number of alternative formats and linked below. The Welsh Government has published a British Sign Language video on alert system on Youtube.
The Easy Read Wales team at Learning Disability Wales has produced easy read leaflets in English and Welsh about the alert system. If you need more information, please contact easyread@ldw.org.uk
In partnership with the government, the Voluntary and Community Services Emergencies Partnership has also published fact sheets in a number of community languages including:
Bengali
French
Gujarati
Tamil
Ukrainian
Urdu
It would be really helpful if you could feed back on the actions you have taken through our online form – because it helps us build up a picture of the campaign and the audiences we are reaching.
Many thanks once again for your continued support.
If you have any questions, please contact GCS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Google folder of assets & resources: (if you cannot access this, please download the assets and resources from the ResilienceDirect Emergency Alerts page or from the links below)
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JTdm8JTheRu52Z69sdv48s9HlEhvq1Z6?usp=share_link
https://collaborate.resilience.gov.uk/RDService/home/316456/Emergency-Alerting
Learning Disability Wales Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHBVoCVw4XZRJmg4enBofNRAHKxuOKaSK
https://www.ldw.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Easy-Read-New-UK-Government-Emergency-Alert-1.pdf
Fact sheets (including translations):
https://vcsep.org.uk/resources/emergency-alerts-system
Announcements:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/time-set-for-uk-emergency-alerts-test
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/launch-of-life-saving-public-emergency-alerts
Further information on alerts:
Social media assets:
For English and Welsh language social media assets please refer to the bottom of the page of the ResilienceDirect Emergency Alerts page.
https://collaborate.resilience.gov.uk/RDService/home/316456/Emergency-Alerting
FAQ: