Emergency Alerts
The UK government’s new Emergency Alerts system is now live. The system will enable people to be contacted via their mobile phone when lives are in danger.
It will be used to warn you in the event of emergencies, such as severe weather.
Emergency Alerts are sent to all compatible mobile phones within an area of risk. They don’t track your location, need your phone number, or collect personal data. Only the government and the emergency services will be able to send them. If you don’t have a mobile phone, you’ll still be kept informed through other channels.
If you get an Emergency Alert on your phone, you’ll hear a loud, siren-like sound. A message on your screen will tell you about the emergency and how best to respond. You’ll be able to check an alert is genuine at gov.uk/alerts
If you receive an alert, read the alert carefully and follow the instructions.
You can opt out of receiving emergency alerts; for more information on how to opt out please go to gov.uk/alerts
To find out more about Emergency Alerts, visit gov.uk/alerts
BELOW ARE SOME USEFUL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SYSTEM:
What are Emergency Alerts?
The new Emergency Alerts service is now live. The system will enable people to be contacted via their mobile phone if their lives are at risk in an emergency. The service will be used to warn you about life-threatening emergencies such as severe weather.
What will the alert look and sound like?
An Emergency Alert looks and sounds very different to other types of messages such as SMS ‘text messages’. You’ll know if you get an Emergency Alert because you’ll hear a loud, siren-like sound and your phone will use a distinct vibration. A message will appear on your screen until you acknowledge it.
Can I opt out?
Emergency Alerts use several channels and the ability to opt in or out is determined by the channel type. However, we strongly recommend that people do not opt out of the service, as it is intended to warn you when lives are in danger.
Opt Out iPhone:
- To opt out, search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’ and turn off Severe alerts and Emergency alerts.
- If this does not work, contact your device manufacturer.
- For further advice go to gov.uk/alerts/opt-out
Opt Out Android phones and tablets:
- To opt out, search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’ and turn off Severe alerts and Emergency alerts.
- On Huawei devices running EMUI 11 or older, search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’ and please turn off “Extreme threats”, “Severe threats” and “Show amber alerts”
- If this does not work, contact your device manufacturer
How can I find an Emergency Alert on my phone after I’ve acknowledged it?
If you received an Emergency Alert on a compatible phone, you may still be able to view it on your phone after you have acknowledged it. On Android phones, the alert may be found in the Messages app or ‘Emergency Alert History’. For iPhone users, the alert will be in your notifications. You can access your notifications by swiping down from the top of your screen. If you delete your notifications, the alert will also be deleted.