Exact date millions of phones in Scotland set for emergency alert siren
BE AWARE Exact date millions of phones in Scotland set for emergency alert siren
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MILLIONS of mobile phones across Scotland will receive another emergency alert this year.
The previous national emergency alert test took place on April 23, 2023.
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There will be a second national emergency alert sent to mobiles in the coming months
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The system is designed for situations where there is an imminent danger to life, such as extreme weather or a terror attack.
It will sound for the second time on mobile phones around 3pm on September 7.
The UK-wide alert is intended to "strengthen the country's preparedness".
The largest ever use of the system saw around 4.5 million people in Scotland and Northern Ireland receive an alert during Storm Éowyn in January.
At the time, a red weather warning was in place, meaning there was a risk to life.
The next test has been planned after the UK Government published a resilience action plan.
During the test, mobile phones will vibrate and make a loud siren-like sound for roughly ten seconds, even if they are set to silent.
A message will also appear on phone screens, making it clear the alert is only a test.
There are estimated to be 87 million mobile phones in the UK.
Before the national test, the UK Government will be running a public information campaign to inform people, including vulnerable groups.
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Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: "Emergency Alerts have the potential to save lives, allowing us to share essential information rapidly in emergency situations including extreme storms.
"Just like the fire alarm in your house, it's important we test the system so that we know it will work if we need it.
"This test is part of our action plan to build resilience across the whole country and secure the nation under the Plan for Change - from the £1 billion we're investing in a new network of National Biosecurity Centres to the £4.2billion we're investing to build a new generation of flood defences to protect local communities."
Since the first national test of the Emergency Alerts system in April 2023, five alerts have been sent, including during major storms when lives were at risk.
Around 3.5 million people across Wales and the South West of England received an alert in December last year during Storm Darragh, which led to two deaths.
Other activations have included when an unexploded World War II bomb was discovered in Plymouth, as well as during localised flash flooding in Cumbria and Leicestershire.
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