Mobile phones across Britain will ping with an alarming message this autumn as millions are sent an Emergency Alert in the second-ever test of the nationwide system designed to tackle extreme events and disasters. The Emergency Alert system warns if there’s a danger to life nearby, including extreme weather, and it allows the Government and national bodies to send vital information and advice to people rapidly in an emergency.

During the test, mobile phones will vibrate and make a loud siren sound for roughly ten seconds, even if they are set to silent. A message will also appear on phone screens, making it clear the alert is only a test. There are approximately 87 million mobile phones in the UK and this will be the second national test of the process since it was first used in April 2023. 

The exact date of this latest test has now been announced as Sunday, September 7. The phones will go off around 3pm.

Labour Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: "Emergency Alerts have the potential to save lives, allowing us to share essential information rapidly in emergency situations including extreme storms. Just like the fire alarm in your house, it’s important we test the system so that we know it will work if we need it.

"This test is part of our action plan to build resilience across the whole country and secure the nation under the Plan for Change - from the £1 billion we’re investing in a new network of National Biosecurity Centres to the £4.2 billion we’re investing to build a new generation of flood defences to protect local communities."

The test follows a government commitment to regularly test the system to ensure it works optimally and familiarise the public with the alerts. This is in line with other countries, such as Japan and the USA, which regularly test their own networks.

Ahead of the national test, the government will be running a public information campaign to notify people that the test is taking place, including communications targeted at vulnerable groups, such as victims of domestic abuse. The campaign will also feature products in British Sign Language.

Since the first national test of the Emergency Alerts system in April 2023, five alerts have been sent, including during major storms when lives were at risk. The largest ever use of the system saw approximately 4.5 million people in Scotland and Northern Ireland receive an alert during Storm Éowyn in January 2025, after a red weather warning was issued, meaning there was a risk to life.

Approximately 3.5 million people across Wales and the South West of England received an alert during Storm Darragh in December 2024. The storm went on to kill two people.

Other activations have included when an unexploded World War II bomb was discovered in Plymouth, as well as during localised flash flooding in Cumbria and Leicestershire.

News of the test comes as Mr McFadden wil unveil a new Resilience Action Plan aimed at improving the way the government prepares for and responds to emergencies. The Resilience Action Plan is due to be published on today (Tuesday).

For more information visit: www.prepare.campaign.gov.uk