Introduction to British Emergency Alert System

The UK government has rights to manage the British emergency alert system. It is the service run by the government to inform the public about the danger nearby, so they can respond during the critical situation. It has been running for years and decreases the potential risks.

The system itself is working automatically. People do not have to sign up for anything since the warning message is sent to them directly even though the smartphone is not connected to their network provider. Read more about how the system works below.

Overview of the British Emergency Alert System

The Developer of The System

This service is run by the government to ensure that information about disasters and threats are officially confirmed. It is important for the public, so they do not have to be panicked or scared about unconfirmed rumors. The developer of the system is the administrations of the UK government.

Other public officials such as police officers and other local councils also develop the system. It is an integrated system where different kinds of dangers which are threatening to life can be announced through the same system. However, they have the right to access your current location.

How to Get An Alert

The British emergency alert system will send the notifications as long as the smartphone is compatible. They use an SMS broadcaster device to spread the warning through a pop-up message. Both Android and iOS users can get the message once the situation is dangerous enough.

The Sign of Warning Message Arrived

When the warning messages arrive on your smartphone, it is not the same kind as when you receive ordinary SMS. The message itself is not in the message menu or other instant message apps. It pops up on the screen immediately with some signs like a siren even though it is on silent mode.

For some people with other types of disabilities, the phone will create vibration to get people’s attention. It vibrates even though you do not set your phone with vibration on the setting. You will automatically read the alert because of this sign, so it is fast to respond and act accordingly.

What To Do After Receiving a Warning Message

As the receiver of the message, you should stop whatever you are doing. Read the alert carefully because the message contains important text and information. Sometimes, it also includes some instructions to follow. After that, you have to follow those instructions for your safety.

Just in case you are reading it in the vehicle when you are driving, find a safe place like on the shoulder of the road and read carefully. You can also make sure of your surroundings and listen to other sources of information like radio to get clearer context.

The Possible Reasons for Getting An Alert

There are some possible situations that allow you to receive an alert on the smartphone. The UK government classifies different situations, such as extreme weather, wildfires, and flooding. After careful measurements, they announce it through the broadcaster device.

The alert will arrive only when the location you are in is categorized as high-risk or potentially affected. The people who are not in the zone cannot get the message to lessen the panic. Thus, people do not have to sign up for anything to receive the alert.

Compatible Device to Get Alerts

The emergency alert works in particular devices, such as iOS 14.5 and later for iPhones. For Android phones, the version should be Android 11 and later. Below those versions, the phones might not be able to get the warning message from the British emergency alert system.

Why Does Your Phone Never Get Warning Messages?

The UK government makes sure everyone gets the messages when danger is around, unless the phone is turned off. Thus, when the mode is in WiFi only with airplane mode, it is harder for the broadcaster to send the messages.

Other reasons are network availability and smartphone compatibility. An old smartphone may not be able to receive the alert from the UK emergency alert system because they are no longer compatible. These phones do not have 4G and 5G options to get the latest update.

As per the overview of the British emergency alert system above, it is important for many countries to have a similar system. Using an SMS broadcaster as part of the system can help to improve its quality since the device works fast and efficiently. Find out more about the device here.