An upcoming emergency alert drill scheduled for next week aims to enhance national safety, according to a statement by a Cabinet minister. On Sunday, September 7, at 3 pm, a nationwide test will broadcast a warning message to millions of phones, notifying them of a nearby life-threatening situation.
This exercise, one of the most extensive public safety drills in the UK, will activate phones to vibrate and emit a siren-like sound for ten seconds. A test message will also display on screens to clarify that it is only a drill, following the protocol observed in countries like Japan and the USA.
All 4G and 5G mobile devices will simultaneously sound the alarm, even if on silent mode, with a text message providing further information. This event marks the second major trial of the system, strategically planned for a Sunday afternoon to reduce disruption to regular work and school schedules.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, emphasized the significance of the upcoming drill, highlighting its role in ensuring the readiness of the Emergency Alerts system to safeguard the nation. He underlined the crucial role of COBR, the government’s emergency planning team, in issuing the test alert and maintaining the system’s 24/7 standby status for real-life emergencies.
COBR, known for coordinating national responses during major incidents, typically operates discreetly but will offer a rare insight into its operations through this test. The exercise aims to demonstrate the swift and coordinated emergency response facilitated by COBR’s collaboration with ministers, senior officials, and expert planners.
Since its launch in April 2023, the Emergency Alerts system has been activated five times to warn of life-threatening situations, including during Storm Éowyn in January 2025, where millions of people in Scotland and Northern Ireland received urgent alerts. Additionally, the system has proven instrumental in local emergencies, such as the rapid evacuation of over 10,000 residents in Plymouth following the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb.
