On Sunday 23 April, the Government will be testing its new phone alert system.
This test will involve an emergency alert sent to all smartphones and tablets, with a 10 second alarm sound and vibration, regardless of whether the phone is on silent or not. Users will have to acknowledge the alert before they can continue to use their device, but will need to take no further action.
How the alerts work
Only emergency services and government bodies will send alerts, warning you of events such as severe flooding, fires, or extreme weather. The alerts will include a phone number or a link to the GOV.UK website for more details.
If you’re driving while an alert comes through, pull over legally and safely before using your phone, or ask a passenger to read the alert out.
Turning off alerts
The Government advice is to keep these alerts on - although some individuals, such as victims of domestic abuse, have been advised to consider turning them off.
To opt out, search for ‘emergency alerts’ in your phone settings, and from there you can turn off severe and extreme alerts.