Message confirmed for national emergency alert test

The message that will be sent during a test of the UK’s emergency alert system at around 3pm on 7th September has been confirmed.

Mobile phones connected to 4G and 5G networks will will vibrate and emit a loud, siren-like sound for up to ten seconds. A message will appear on screen, making it clear the alert is a drill and that no action is needed.

The full text of the test message has now been revealed, and alerts will read:

“This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a UK government service that will warn you if there’s 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.

“Find simple and effective advice on how to prepare for emergencies at gov.uk/prepare.

“Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information or to view this message in Welsh. Ewch i gov.uk/alerts am ragor o wybodaeth neu i weld y neges hon yn y Gymraeg.”

The test of the system takes place after emergency alerts were sent to 4.5 million devices during Storm Éowyn in January 2025, largely in Northern Ireland, where red weather warnings were issued.

Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said:

“We saw the Emergency Alert system’s value first-hand during Storm Éowyn in January and this test will be important in making sure we are prepared for future emergencies.“

This second test follows a government commitment to test the system regularly to make sure it works optimally and familiarise the public with the alerts. This is in line with standard practice in other countries, such as Japan and the USA.