General Chat

Seems they meant to send it over the telly not the phones. We get both over here always happens at a crucial point in the show :-) that said either way it happens rarely.

I’ve just found it on the BBC world news online.

names
My daughter was telling me about that :-0

https://winknews.com/2023/04/20/fdem-apologizes-for-waking-people-with-early-morning-test-alert/

I can’t find it this morning but I’m sure I read last night that an American city/town got woken up in the middle of the night with an Alert test.

It didn’t go down well.

Island I would always shelter from flying tomatoes :-D

Maggie go for it a little day trip.

Maggie :-D :-D :-D

Sounds like you you need a trip out on Sunday ;-)

If I lived where I used to live, I'd be on the bridge over the M3 at 3pm,watching the cars when the alarm goes off.

I won't get an alert at home as the signal is so poor.
I could always walk down the road so I don't miss out :-D

It's UK wide Joan

I saw that as shelter from tomatoes :-0

We've had quite a few warnings over the past few years and no one has dropped dead with shock :-)
What has happened is children have been found when lost/abducted; people have found shelter when tornadoes have hit; and I think there was one for an armed siege.
Yes they're annoying and yes if you want to push it to the nth degree it's the nanny state taking over but in reality, it might just help someone you know.

As Caroline says, if it is like ours, it will be used for child abduction, possibly woman abduction.

The noise is NOT enough to make you jump out of your skin, but it will attract yur attention!

There is an attempt to extend a similar alarm to when dementia patients get lost .... the intent with all of these types of alerts being to start and immediate search as soon as possible instead of waiting days.

I believe the alarm could also be used in some areas in the event of a major weather warning, such as a tornado.

Just a reminder, so you don't get a shock on Sunday!

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2023/april/mobile-phone-test-emergency-alert/

If it's like the ones we get over here they will use it with abducted children cases for instance, seems to work. We get the messages on our TV screens too.

I take it back AG, following your directions as opposed to what i read on google, i have found alerts and listened to the sound it makes. Its actually ok and not as noisy as my smoke detector.

Ty for showing where to find the alerts. Mine is listed below App permissions.

In that case, you won't receive them, Florence.

Mine is Android 11. The alerts come under "Apps and Notifications" and then "Advanced" and "Wireless Emergency Alerts".

But as that phone is mostly switched off, I won't get them either
I prefer to use my small, lightweight, trusty Nokia 1100, which is definitely not "smart".

My mobile is Android 9 and I cant find any alerts in settings!

Let's hope the Government /local Councils don't decide that a smartphone warning about flooding, rather than the battered roadsigns would be better.

Those people would need to have a basic phone without internet, or else opt out of the alerts:


".Opting out of emergency alerts
You can opt out of emergency alerts, but you should keep them switched on for your own safety.
To opt out:
Search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’.
Turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’.
If you still get alerts, contact your device manufacturer for help."


"Reasons you will not get an alert
You will not receive alerts if your device is:

turned off or in airplane mode
connected to a 2G or 3G network
wifi only
not compatible


Compatible mobile phones and other devices
Make sure your device has all the latest software updates.
Emergency alerts work on:

iPhones running iOS 14.5 or later
Android phones and tablets running Android 11 or later
If you have an earlier version of Android, you may still be able to receive alerts. To check, search your device settings for ‘emergency alerts’.

https://www.gov.uk/alerts/how-alerts-work#compatible-devices

I was talking to someone in Fire and Rescue about this recently and he said there are other considerations that need sorting before a general alarm is sent out.
He mentioned that sometimes vulnerable adults, who might be subject to domestic abuse are encouraged to have a private extra mobile, so that they can call for help away from their 'known' phone.
Imagine the situation if an alarm suddenly sounds on a hidden device :-0