Emergency Alerts in the UK

 

What Are Emergency Alerts in the UK?

Emergency Alerts are a public warning system that the UK government officially rolled out in 2023 to quickly notify people about life-threatening emergencies in their area.

These alerts are designed to keep the public safe by sending urgent messages directly to mobile phones and other smart devices.

Why Were Emergency Alerts Introduced in the UK?

The idea behind Emergency Alerts is rooted in the government’s goal to:

• Provide fast, direct warnings to the public when lives are at risk.

• Reach people instantly, including those not actively checking the news or social media.

• Modernize the UK’s civil protection strategy, making it comparable to other countries like the USA, Canada, Japan, and the Netherlands — where cell broadcast warnings have saved countless lives during storms, floods, wildfires, or earthquakes.

Before Emergency Alerts, the UK mostly relied on:

• Met Office weather warnings.

• Environment Agency flood alerts (via text, email, or local radio).

• Emergency broadcast systems on TV and radio.

• Local police or council social media pages.

However, these required people to actively check for information — cell broadcasts fill that gap with unavoidable, instant notifications.

How Do Emergency Alerts Work?

• Technology Used:
  The system uses cell broadcast technology, which sends messages to all compatible mobile phones in a specific area.
  Unlike text messages, cell broadcasts don’t rely on your phone number — they go to every phone in range of certain masts.

• What Happens When You Get an Alert?

  • Your phone will make a loud, siren-like sound — even if it’s on silent mode.

  • The phone will vibrate strongly.

  • A message will appear on your screen with information about the emergency and instructions on what to do.

• No Data Needed:
  The alerts are free and do not use mobile data or text allowances.

How the Technology Works

• Cell Broadcast (CB):
  Emergency Alerts use CB, a decades-old technology originally designed for mobile network operators to send messages to all devices in a geographic area — similar to sending an FM radio signal.

• Unlike SMS (text messages):

  • No phone number is needed.

  • The broadcast goes to all compatible phones within range of a mast.

  • There’s no congestion — so if millions of people are in an affected area, they all receive it at the same time.

• It works even if:

  • Phone signal is weak (as long as you’re connected to a cell tower).

  • There is no internet connection.

• Messages have standardised formatting to ensure clarity and to distinguish them from spam.

When Are They Used?

Emergency Alerts are used only for serious threats to life. This can include:

• Severe weather (like floods, storms, wildfires)

• Industrial accidents

• Public safety emergencies (like terrorist incidents)

• Civil defense situations (in rare, extreme cases)

Timeline: How Emergency Alerts Rolled Out

2013–2014 — UK ran small trials in Reading, Suffolk, and Glasgow to test feasibility.
2014–2019 — Other priorities delayed the project.
2020–2021 — COVID-19 showed the value of urgent nationwide communication. The idea was revived.
April 2021–2022 — Testing expanded. Small regional alerts were trialled in Yorkshire and London.
April 23, 2023 — First nationwide test alert at 3 PM.

• Estimated 85% of compatible phones received the test.

• Some people reported not receiving it — mostly older phones or those with certain network settings.

What Does a Real Emergency Alert Look & Sound Like?

• Visual:

  • A bright banner appears on the phone’s entire screen with a triangle warning symbol.

  • It includes a clear heading, the alert text, and instructions.

• Audio:

  • The alert uses a unique siren-like tone designed to be impossible to ignore.

  • It’s louder than a normal notification — even on silent mode.

• Vibration:

• Strong, repeated vibration for accessibility.

How Do Emergency Alerts Link to Other Warning Systems?

Emergency Alerts don’t replace existing services — they add an extra layer:

• Met Office: Still issues yellow, amber, red weather warnings.

• Environment Agency: Issues flood warnings.

• Local Authorities & Police: Share urgent updates on social media, websites, or loudspeakers.

• Broadcast Media: TV and radio channels break into programming for major emergencies.

When Did They Start?

• April 2023:
  The UK government conducted its first nationwide test of the Emergency Alerts system on 23 April 2023 at 3 PM.
  Millions of phones received the test message successfully.

• The system was inspired by similar systems in other countries, like the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) in the US and NL-Alert in the Netherlands.

Common Concerns & FAQs

Q: Will I always get an alert?
A: Not necessarily. It depends on your phone, your network, and whether you’re in the affected area.

Q: Can the government track my location?
A: No. Cell broadcast does not collect your location or identity — it simply sends the message to every phone connected to the relevant towers.

Q: Why didn’t I get the test alert?
A: Possible reasons:

• Phone was switched off.

• Device was on airplane mode.

• You’re using an older phone that doesn’t support 4G/5G CB.

• Settings for “Emergency Alerts” were turned off.

• You were connected only to Wi-Fi with no cellular signal.

Q: Can I turn them off?
A: Yes. On Android and iPhone, you can switch them off in settings under “Emergency Alerts.” But the government strongly advises keeping them on.

Who Sends the Alerts?

• Alerts are sent by government departments, like the Cabinet Office, and agencies responsible for national and regional safety — such as the Met Office for severe weather or the Environment Agency for floods.

• Local resilience forums may also use the system for regional incidents.

Who Will Get an Alert?

• Anyone with a compatible 4G or 5G phone in the affected area.

• You don’t need to sign up — it’s automatic.

Can You Opt Out?

• Technically, yes — in your phone settings you can disable ‘Emergency Alerts’.
  But the government strongly recommends you keep them switched on, because they are designed to protect life.

How Are They Different from Other Warnings?

Emergency Alerts are more targeted and immediate than:

• Social media updates

• News bulletins

• Text messages from local authorities

They are broadcast directly to mobile masts, so you’ll get the alert only if you’re physically in the area at risk.

Accessibility

The system was developed with accessibility in mind:

• The alert includes clear text.

• Many phones have text-to-speech, so the message can be read out loud.

• The vibration and loud sound help reach people with hearing or visual impairments.

How to Recognize a Real Alert

An official UK Emergency Alert:

• Has a distinctive sound and vibration.

• Appears with a government symbol.

• Includes advice or instructions (e.g., “Move to higher ground” or “Stay indoors”).

Scammers cannot easily spoof an official cell broadcast alert — but the government still advises caution about fake messages sent through other means.

Examples of When They May Be Used

• Flood Warning: “Severe flood risk. Move to higher ground now.”

• Severe Storm: “Damaging winds expected. Shelter indoors until safe.”

• Fire Risk: “Wildfire threat. Evacuate immediately if safe to do so.”

• Terror Incident: “Security threat in this area. Stay inside and await further instructions.”

Future Developments

• Improved Coverage: Ongoing work with network providers to reach more devices and fix coverage gaps.

• Integration: Potential for multilingual alerts in areas with high numbers of non-English speakers.

• Public Awareness: More campaigns to ensure people recognize genuine alerts and don’t mistake them for spam.

• Expansion: Possible future integration with smartwatches and IoT devices (like smart speakers).

Benefits

• Faster than relying solely on radio, TV, or internet updates.

• Works even if you are visiting an unfamiliar area.

• Reaches people without needing their phone numbers.

Things to Know

• The alert does not track your location — it uses broadcast towers, not GPS.

• It does not collect personal data.

• If you’re driving when an alert comes through, you’re legally required not to look at your phone — wait until it’s safe to pull over.

Example Message

EMERGENCY ALERT
“Severe flood risk in your area. Avoid travel. Move to higher ground. Follow advice from emergency services.”

How Often Will I Get Them?

These alerts are rare — only issued for serious, life-threatening emergencies. Most people may never receive one, except for occasional test messages.

Privacy

Emergency Alerts do not:

• Track you

• Collect your data

• Know your phone number or identity

They only broadcast to devices in the relevant location.

Final Word

The UK’s Emergency Alerts system is part of the government’s Resilience Framework — aiming to keep people informed, safe, and prepared during unexpected emergencies. It adds an extra layer of public protection alongside the Met Office warnings, Environment Agency flood alerts, and local emergency services announcements.