Every UK phone blasts emergency siren at 3pm Sunday

A man looks at a smartphone displaying a UK government Emergency Alert System message (Illustrative image) (Photo by Anna Barclay/Getty Images) Getty Images

Millions of UK mobile phones will simultaneously sound emergency alerts at exactly 3pm on Sunday, September 7, marking only the second national test of the government's emergency warning system. All devices on 4G and 5G networks across the country will vibrate and emit a loud siren-like sound for up to ten seconds.

The alert message will read: "This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby." The notification will advise users they do not need to take any action during the test.

Government emergency preparedness

Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, announced the test as part of a new Resilience Action Plan to improve emergency response capabilities. "We do not use the system often, but like the fire alarm in your home, it is always on standby should we need to act," he said.

The system has proven effective during real emergencies, with five previous activations for life-threatening situations. These included Storm Éowyn and Storm Darragh, which affected approximately 3.5 million people across Wales and South West England with 90mph wind warnings.

According to Liverpool Echo, 4.5 million people received alerts during Storm Éowyn in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Other activations warned residents about an unexploded World War II bomb in Plymouth and localised flash flooding in Cumbria and Leicestershire.

Technical requirements and opt-out options

Northern Echo reports that devices need iOS 14.5 or higher and Android 11 or higher to receive the alerts. The government encourages keeping alerts enabled, but individuals can opt out if needed.

Liverpool Echo highlights concerns from Women's Aid about secondary phones hidden from domestic abusers potentially being revealed by the alert sound. The organisation advises vulnerable individuals to consider temporarily switching off hidden devices during the test.

The Daily Record notes that the National Centre for Domestic Violence provides specific guidance for vulnerable populations regarding emergency alert procedures.

Sources used: "Manchester Evening", "Chronicle Live", "Liverpool Echo", "Northern Echo", "Bristol Post", "Daily Record"

Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.