At around 3pm today (Sunday, September 7), mobile phones across the UK emitted a loud alert sound/”>sound as part of a test for the Emergency Alert system.
Public Reaction to the Alert
The test message Readread: “This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a UK government service that will warn you if there is a life-threatening emergency nearby. You do not need to take any action. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.”
Many users took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their reactions. One user commented, “Everyone in the UK just crapped themselves. Knew that emergency alert was coming and still got a shock. Mine came through at 3:01; some didn’t get it until 3:02.”
Another user remarked, “I’m on a bus and forgot about the emergency alert despite being reminded like three times, and it scared the sh*t out of me.” A third added, “Just got the UK Government Emergency Alert. Forgot I was getting it. Walking around the place thinking what the hell’s that, and then thinking my phone had broken. Can step down now.”
One user even noted, “This is Howhow their test of the emergency alert sounded just now. Someone I’m with threw her phone away.”
What to Expect in a Real Emergency
If you do not have a compatible device, you will still be informed about an emergency. Emergency services have other methods to alert the public when there is a threat to life.
