Testing the national Emergency Alerts system

The Government’s Emergency Alerts system is used to warn if there’s a danger to life nearby, including extreme weather.

Since the first national test of the system in April 2023, five alerts have been sent, including during major storms when lives were at risk. The UK Government is running a second national test on Sunday 7 September 2025 at 3pm.

Why?

Testing the system is a crucial part of ongoing efforts to strengthen national resilience and safeguard communities in case of emergencies. Regular testing ensures the system is functioning correctly, should it need to be used in a life-threatening emergency.

The Emergency Alerts system is an important tool for reaching the public in emergency situations. Only the government and the emergency services, like the police, are able to send alerts. However, if you need to turn off these alerts (including the test), visit gov.uk/alerts/opting-out for step-by-step instructions.

What will happen?

Compatible 4G and 5G mobile phones and tablets will receive an alert, make a loud siren-like sound and vibrate for about 10 seconds, even if it’s set on silent. An alert message will appear on the screen confirming this is a test and that you do not need to take any further action.

The Government does not need your phone number or any of your details to send the alert, and your device does not need to have mobile data or WiFi to receive it. You’ll get alerts based on your current location - not where you live or work. You do not need to turn on location services to receive alerts. Find out more at gov.uk/alerts.

If you’re driving when the alert sounds, do not pick up your phone to read the message. It is illegal to hold a mobile device while driving or riding. Continue driving as normal, staying in full control of your vehicle, and find a safe and legal place to pull over if you wish to read the message. You can also listen to the news on live radio.

You’ll be able to check that an alert is genuine at gov.uk/alerts. Emergency Alerts will be just one of the ways the government communicates with the public about emergency situations. So if you don’t have a mobile phone, don’t worry – you’ll still be made aware through the media and local emergency services, like us. Make sure you’re following us on all our social media channels and sign up for Warwickshire Connected so you can access all the latest updates from us.

Need to opt out?

Some people may feel at risk or concerned about having an alert on their phone, particularly victims of domestic abuse who may conceal their phone as that might be the only way they can seek support or call for help in an emergency. If you need to opt out of emergency alerts, including Sunday’s test, please visit: gov.uk/alerts/opting-out

Preparing for emergencies

There are simple and effective steps we can all take to be more prepared for an emergency. Visit gov.uk/prepare for advice on how you can prepare and learn more about local risks here: warwickshireresilienceforum.org/prepare/.

Make sure you’re following us on all our social media channels and sign up for Warwickshire Connected so you can access all the latest updates from us.

Information about the upcoming national test is available below, including British Sign Language (BSL) and Easy Read formats:

• An animation showing what the message may look and sound like on a mobile phone
• An audio clip explaining the test and what it may sound like
• National Emergency Alerts EasyRead English
• National Emergency Alerts BSL English

Issued: JB, Corporate Communications