Launch of public alert system

March 21, 2023

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 flooding. 

Emergency Alerts are messages sent to all compatible 4G and 5G mobile phones when there’s a danger to your life, health or property in the area you’re located. They don’t need your location or phone number. Only the government and the emergency services can send them. If you don’t have a mobile, 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 

To learn more about Emergency Alerts, look out for the nationwide information campaign and visit gov.uk/alerts