At around 3pm on September 7, 2025, the government will conduct its second test of the Emergency Alerts system, the Cabinet Office said.
Millions of mobile devices will receive a message which, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden said, should be treated like a fire alarm test.
What the message will say
“This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby,” a spokesperson said.
“You do not need to take any action. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.”
Public Information campaign
Ahead of the national test, the government is running a public information campaign to notify people it is taking place, including communications targeted at vulnerable groups such as victims of domestic abuse.
The campaign has also featured the first national information video in British Sign Language.
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.
The largest use of the system saw approximately 4.5 million people in Scotland and Northern Ireland receive an alert during Storm Éowyn in January 2025 after a red weather warning was issued, meaning there was a risk to life.
