Latest news with #EmergencyAlerts
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
DWP issues 'Emergency Alerts' update to anyone with a phone
The UK's Emergency Alert system is a tool for providing warnings in life-threatening situations The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued an alert about an important date in less than two months. Its message especially concerns anyone who owns a mobile phone or tablet device. Posting to X, the department wrote on Sunday: "There will be a UK-wide test of the Emergency Alerts system on Sun 7 Sep 2025 at 3pm. Your phone may sound and display a message. No action is needed." As its message suggests, the government is testing the UK's Emergency Alert system on Sunday, September 7 at 3pm. This specifically describes a tool used to provide warnings and advice in life-threatening emergency situations. While the alert on September 7 is just a test, it may be used to warn UK citizens of hazards such as wildfires, severe flooding, and extreme storms in the future. The government, emergency services, agencies, and other organisations that handle emergencies can issue these cautions. Crucially, the government does not need to know your phone number or location to send these alerts. "An alert will include a phone number or a link to the website for more information," the government's website explains. "You'll get alerts based on your current location - not where you live or work. You do not need to turn on location services to receive alerts." When an alert occurs, a phone or tablet may either make a loud siren-like noise, vibrate or read the message aloud. READ MORE: 'Itchy prickly feeling' and spots may be a hot weather symptom, NHS explains Alerts usually last around 10 seconds. Although members of the public will not need to take action during the September 7 alert, others may provide instructions on what to do next. However, the government adds: "Do not read or respond to an emergency alert while driving or riding. Find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading the message. "If there's nowhere safe and legal to stop, and nobody else is in the vehicle to read the alert, you can listen to news on live radio to find out about the emergency. It's illegal to use a hand-held device while driving or riding." It's important to acknowledge that emergency alerts will not replace local news, radio, television or social media announcements. If you have an incompatible device, the government stresses that you will still be informed when there is a threat to life. Most emergency alerts across the UK will be sent in English, though in Wales, they may also be received in Welsh. The government's advice continues: "If you have a vision or hearing impairment, audio and vibration attention signals will let you know you have an emergency alert if accessibility notifications have been enabled on your mobile phone or tablet."
The Verge
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Verge
How to design an actually good flash flood alert system
Flash floods have wrought more havoc in the US this week, from the Northeast to the Midwest, just weeks after swollen rivers took more than 130 lives across central Texas earlier this month. Frustrations have grown in the aftermath of that catastrophe over why more wasn't done to warn people in advance. Local officials face mounting questions over whether they sent too many or sent too few mobile phone alerts to people. Some Texans have accused the state of sending out too many alerts for injured police officers in the months leading up to the floods, which may have led to residents opting out of receiving warnings. And hard-hit Kerr County, where more than 100 people died, lacked sirens along riverbanks to warn people of rising waters. These are all important questions to answer that can help keep history from repeating itself in another disaster. Failing to translate flood forecasts into timely messages that tell people what they need to do to stay safe can have tragic consequences. In Texas and elsewhere, the solution is more wide-ranging than fixing any single channel of communication. The Verge spoke with experts about what it would take to design an ideal disaster warning system. The solution is more wide-ranging than fixing any single channel of communication When you have a matter of hours or maybe even minutes to send a lifesaving message, you need to use every tool at your disposal. That communication needs to start long before the storm rolls in, and involves everyone from forecasters to disaster managers and local officials. Even community members will need to reach out to each other when no one else may be able to get to them. By definition, flash floods are difficult to forecast with specificity or much lead time. But forecasts are only one part of the process. There are more hurdles when it comes to getting those forecasts out to people, an issue experts describe as getting past 'the last mile.' Doing so starts with a shift in thinking from ''what will the weather be' to 'what will the weather do,'' explains Olufemi Osidele, CEO of Hydrologic Research Center (HRC), which oversees a global flash flood guidance program. The technical term is 'impact-based forecasting,' and the goal is to relay messages that help people understand what actions to take to keep themselves safe. In the hours leading up to devastating floods in central Texas, the National Weather Service sent out escalating alerts about the growing risk of flash floods. But not everyone received alerts on their phones with safety instructions from Kerr County officials during crucial hours, according to records obtained by NBC News. While meteorologists can say there's a life-threatening storm approaching, it typically falls to local authorities to determine what guidance to give to specific communities on how and when to evacuate or take shelter. 'Emergency responders need to know what are the appropriate actions to take or what's needed in the case of a flash flood before an event happens so that they can react quickly, because the time to respond to that event is likely very short,' says Theresa Modrick Hansen, chief operating officer at HRC. 'Time is really the critical issue for disaster managers.' Without prior planning, local alerting authorities might be stuck staring at a blank screen when deciding what warning to send to people in the heat of the moment. Many alerting platforms don't include instructions on how to write that message, according to Jeannette Sutton, an associate professor in the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany, SUNY. Sutton is also the founder of The Warn Room and consults with local organizations on how to improve their warning systems. 'When you sit down at the keyboard, you have a blank box that you have to fill in with the information that's going to be useful to the public,' Sutton says. 'And when you are in a highly volatile, emotional, chaotic situation, and you all of a sudden have to create [a] message very quickly that is really clear and complete and directed to the right people at the right time, it's really hard to think of all of that in the moment.' There aren't national standards for how a flood alert system should work in the US, so practices vary from place to place. Sutton recommends an end-to-end warning system that connects each step of the process and the people along the way. It includes forecasters and hydrologists who collect data and run it through predictive models to understand the potential impact on communities — identifying which specific populations or infrastructure are most vulnerable. They need to get that information quickly to disaster managers who can then reach people most at risk with safety instructions using channels of communication they've thought through in advance. Ideally, those alerts are tailored to specific locations and give people clear instructions — telling them who should evacuate, when, and where, for instance. A strong message should include five things, according to Sutton: who the message is from, what the hazard is doing, the location and timing of the threat, and what actions to take to protect yourself. 'If you are receiving a warning that's statewide or county wide, it can be difficult for some people to understand if they should act or evacuate,' says Juliette Murphy, CEO and co-founder of the flood forecasting company FloodMapp. 'Or if a warning states that a river will reach 30 feet, that might not mean much to some people if they don't have a hydrology understanding.' Murphy's company is now using its mapping tools to help state and federal agencies find dozens of people still missing since the July 4th floods. FloodMapp hadn't worked with counties affected by the floods prior to this disaster, but Murphy says she'd like to work with local agencies in the future that want to improve their warning systems. Kerr County is under scrutiny for lacking flood sirens, even though county commissioners had been talking about the need to upgrade its flood systems — including adding sirens — since at least 2016. The county sits in an area known as 'flash flood alley' because of the way the hilly topography of the area heightens flood risk during storms. Sirens in neighboring communities have been credited with saving lives. 'If I were to envision a really good, robust warning system in flash flood alley, I would say that there would be sirens in these very rural, remote areas,' Sutton says. Sirens can be critical for reaching people outdoors who may not have cell service and are hard to reach. Even so, it's no silver bullet. The sound doesn't necessarily reach people indoors who are further from the riverbanks but still in harm's way. And it doesn't provide clear instructions on what actions people need to take. Along with sirens, Sutton says she'd recommend making sure communities are prepared with 'call trees' in advance. That means people are physically picking up the phone; each person is responsible for calling three more people, and so on. 'It's the human touch,' Sutton says. In worst-case scenarios, that might include going out to pound on neighbors' doors. And that human touch can be especially important for reaching someone who might be skeptical of a government agency sending an alert but might trust a friend or fellow church member, for example, or for those who speak a different language than what officials use. Wireless emergency alerts are also critical; Sutton considers them the most powerful alerting system across the US because it does not require people to opt in to get a message. But there are also warning systems that people can opt in to for alerts, including CodeRed weather warnings. Kerr County used CodeRed to send out warnings to people subscribed to that system, and audio recordings from disaster responders on July 4th have raised more questions about whether those messages were too delayed to keep people out of danger. In an email to The Verge, a Kerr County spokesperson said the county is committed to 'transparency' and a 'full review' of the disaster response. State lawmakers start a special session next week and are expected to consider legislation to bolster flood warning systems and emergency communications. One Senate bill would let municipalities gather residents' contact information to enroll them in text alerts that they could opt out of if they don't want to receive them. People opting out of notifications has also been a concern — particularly after a deluge of 'Blue alerts' sent after a law enforcement officer has been injured or killed. Frustrations have flared up on social media this month over a statewide Blue alert issued for someone suspected of being involved in the 'serious injury' of a police officer at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Alvarado, Texas. 'Texas can't adequately warn people about deadly floods, but it can immediately let me know that a cop got hurt 250 miles away from me,' one post with more than 20,000 likes on Bluesky says. The FCC has received thousands complaints about the Blue alert system in Texas, CBS News reported in October of last year. 'Alert fatigue' is a concern if it pushes people to ignore warnings or opt out of receiving them altogether. That can be an issue during extreme weather if authorities include Blue alerts and extreme weather warnings in the same 'imminent threat' category of wireless emergency alerts. Again, this can vary from locality to locality. 'It's really frustrating when they choose to send a Blue alert through an imminent threat channel,' Sutton says. To stop getting those pings about police officers, someone might opt out of the imminent threat category of wireless emergency alerts — but that means they would also stop getting other alerts in the same channel for weather emergencies. 'This is exactly what we don't want to have happen, because when you turn it off you're not going to get the message for that flash flood. So it's really dangerous,' Sutton says. 'This is exactly what we don't want to have happen' Even so, we still don't have data on who might have missed a lifesaving alert because of frustration with Blue alerts. Nor do we know the extent to which people are just ignoring notifications, or why. The number of public safety alerts sent in Texas has doubled since 2018 for a wide range of warnings, including Blue alerts, Silver alerts for missing elderly adults, Amber alerts for missing children, and more, the Houston Chronicle reports. And when it comes to warning people about flash floods in particular, experts still stress the need to get warnings to people via every means possible. If someone misses a wireless emergency alert, there should be another way to reach them. There are likely going to be gaps when it comes to any single strategy for alerting people, as well as other complications that can impede the message getting out. (On July 4th, floodwaters rose in the dead of night — making it even harder to notify people as they slept.) That's why a 'Swiss cheese' approach to warning people can be most effective in overcoming that last mile, Chris Vagasky, a meteorologist and manager of the Wisconsin Environmental Mesonet at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, explains. (And it's similar to an ideology used to prevent the spread of disease.) 'You know you got slices of Swiss cheese and they've got holes in them. Nothing is ever perfect. But if you layer enough pieces of cheese, it reduces the risk because something might go through one hole, but then it gets blocked,' Vagasky says. 'We always want people to have multiple ways of receiving warnings.'
Associated Press
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Associated Press
Historic rainfall leads to deadly flooding in New Mexico: a timeline of emergency alerts
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Three people died in flooding Tuesday as New Mexico's Rio Ruidoso's banks swelled amid the summer rainy season. The village of Ruidoso and other parts of New Mexico have received more warnings in the past few years as catastrophic wildfires have left vast swaths of once forested land without enough vegetation to absorb and hold back storm runoff. If a storm lingers over one of these burn scars, it doesn't take much to create trouble. Ruidoso, a popular summer retreat in the mountains of southern New Mexico, was the recipient this time, getting what officials called historic rainfall that caused the death of three people and left dozens of homes damaged. The Associated Press reviewed a database of the National Weather Service's emergency alerts. Here's a look at the warnings that preceded the deadly flooding: 2:15 p.m. The NWS in Albuquerque sent a Wireless Emergency Alert to cellphones in the Ruidoso area announcing a flash flood warning. It cited the South Fork burn scar, saying flash flooding was expected to begin shortly and would affect areas along the Rio Ruidoso and downstream of Ruidoso Downs. WEA alerts are targeted to cellphones in a geographic area. They can appear as the pop ups on our phones and or text messages. The language differs based on the cellphone capabilities, but each initial alert communicated the need to avoid flooded areas. 2:47 p.m. The NWS triggered another wireless alert, upgrading the situation to a flash flood emergency for Ruidoso. At this point, Rio Ruidoso remained at just under 1.5 foot (0.45 meters) high. However, the alert emphasized a 'particularly dangerous situation' and those in areas in and around the South Fork scar should 'seek higher ground now' and evacuate. The Lincoln County Office of Emergency Services followed up shortly after with an alert warning that flash flooding was imminent in the Cedar Creek area and warned people to 'move to higher ground immediately.' Two more alerts followed, one from the NWS and another from Ruidoso Emergency Management, which stated that flash flooding had been observed along the Rio Ruidoso just before 3 p.m. 3:30 p.m. A U.S. Geological Survey gauge along the Rio Ruidoso, located just north of a commercial district along U.S. Highway 70, recorded a water level increase from 1.5 feet (0.45 meters) to nearly 6 feet (1.8 meters). Minor flooding can occur at 10 feet (3 meters) at that location, per the USGS data. At the same time, Lincoln County emergency officials sent an alert to cellphones regarding imminent flash flooding in the Ruidoso Downs area, just east of the USGS river gauge. 3:55 p.m. Rio Ruidoso rose to more than 20 feet (6 meters), according to preliminary data recorded by the USGS gauge.
Telegraph
08-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Emergency alarm to sound on all phones on anniversary of the Blitz
An emergency alert will be sent to all mobile phones in the UK to test the country's preparedness for danger to life. At 3pm on Sunday Sept 7, the texts will be sent out to approximately 87 million mobile phones in the UK. The alert will coincide with the 85th anniversary of the start of the Blitz, which began on Sept 7 1940. During the test, phones will vibrate and make a loud siren sound for about 10 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. The Emergency Alerts system is used to warn if there is a danger to life nearby, including extreme weather, and will allow vital information and advice to be sent to people rapidly in an emergency. It will be the second time such a test has taken place. The first was in April 2023 as part of a government commitment to familiarise the public with the alerts. Countries such as Japan and the USA also test similar systems. Since April 2023, five alerts have been sent, including during major storms when lives were at risk. The largest use of the system happened in Scotland and Northern Ireland when approximately 4.5 million people received an alert during Storm Éowyn in January 2025, when a red weather warning over risk to life was issued. In December 2024, 3.5 million people across Wales and the South West of England received an alert during Storm Darragh, which killed two people. Other activations have included when an unexploded Second World War bomb was discovered in Plymouth and during flash flooding in Cumbria and Leicestershire. Potential to save lives Before the test, the Government will run a public information campaign to notify people that it is taking place. Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said the alerts had the potential to save lives. '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,' he said. A new Resilience Action Plan, published on Tuesday, will improve the way the Government prepares for and responds to emergencies. A website will provide information on 'simple and effective steps' people can take to be more prepared. These include working out the best escape route from home in the event of a fire or flood and keeping a hard copy of important phone numbers in the event of a power cut. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is investing £370 million to better secure the UK's telecommunications networks through research and investment in new technology and infrastructure. The National Situation Centre and the Devolved Governments are also going to sign a data-sharing Memorandum of Understanding to ensure that every nation in the UK has the best available information to prepare and respond to crises.
Sky News
08-07-2025
- Sky News
Every mobile phone to receive emergency alert: When it will happen - and what it will say
Mobile phones across the UK will be sent an emergency alert as the government tests the system nationwide. During the test, the second only of its kind, approximately 87 million mobile devices will ring out unprompted. The system was first tested in April 2023, but the government said some users reported that their phones did not sound, with the problem traced back to specific networks. It has also been used on several occasions to warn of adverse weather events and in one case last year, when an unexploded Second World War bomb was due to be moved by the military. Here is what you can expect. When is it going to happen? The test is due to happen at 3pm on Sunday 7 September. Phones will vibrate and emit a loud siren sound for roughly 10 seconds, even if they are set to silent. A message will also appear on phone screens warning people it is only a test and no action needs to be taken. The government said it is testing the system to ensure it is working optimally and so the public become familiar with the alerts. WHAT THE TEST MESSAGE WILL SAY The message is expected to say something similar to the following: "This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby. "In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Visit for more information. "This is a test. You do not need to take any action." But critics have said the alerts themselves could put people's safety at risk, including drivers who may become distracted and domestic violence victims who keep a secret phone. Pat McFadden, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: "It'll be a really important moment where we can do the equivalent at a national level of testing the country's fire alarm or smoke alarm. [It is] part of our defences, part of our resilience, and a really important communication tool between the government and the public." When has the system been used for real? Since the first national test of the system in April 2023, five alerts have been sent to warn the public of real emergencies. The largest ever use of the system happened in January this year, when approximately 4.5 million people in Scotland and Northern Ireland received an alert during Storm Eowyn, after a rare red weather warning - meaning there was a risk to life - was issued. Also in January, the alert warned people of severe flooding at Proctor's Pleasure caravan park near Barrow upon Soar. The message told people in the park to evacuate to a nearby rest centre. 0:11 Another alert in December 2024 was sent to approximately 3.5 million people across Wales and the South West of England during Storm Darragh, during which two people died. The system was used for a non-weather event in February 2024. An alert was issued by Plymouth City Council to warn local residents to avoid a certain route that was being used to convoy an unexploded Second World War bomb through the city to the sea. 0:57 It told residents to stay away from the cordoned area in Keyham for a three-hour window. Tracey Lee, the chief executive of Plymouth City Council said the government's alert tool was "invaluable" at the time, and allowed the council to reach "thousands of residents instantly". How does the technology work? The emergency alerts are broadcast via mobile phone masts and work on all 4G and 5G phone networks. That's different to how the government sent out lockdown orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, when SMS messages were sent directly to phone numbers. HOW TO TURN THE ALERT OFF Despite the government's pleas, domestic violence charities are concerned the alert could give away secret phones people experiencing abuse are keeping hidden. If you're concerned, it's easy to switch them off. On iOS and Android devices, search settings for "emergency alerts" and turn off "severe alerts" and "emergency alerts". On Huawei devices running EMUI 11 or older, search settings for "emergency alerts" and turn off "extreme threats", "severe threats", and "show amber alerts". The other option is switching off the device entirely or putting it in aeroplane mode before 3pm. It means whoever sends an alert does not need your number, so it's not something you need to reply to, nor will you receive a voicemail if you miss it. No location or other data will be collected, either. It also means alerts could be sent to tablets and smartwatches on their own data plans. Anyone in the range of a mast will receive an alert, and they can be tuned based on geography - for example, Manchester residents would not need an alert about life-threatening flooding in Cornwall. Manuel Cornelisse, Everbridge's senior director for public warnings, told Sky News the tech had proved its worth in other countries, including his homeland of the Netherlands. "It's a very well-proven technology with very strong, quality reach," he said. "And because it's part of the very highest priority of signalling, the service will always remain available, even if a network gets congested when there is massive usage (such as at a sports ground)."
