UK Emergency Alerts: How to Stay Safe

The UK Emergency Alerts service is designed to warn you when there is a serious danger to life nearby, such as severe flooding, fires or extreme weather. Alerts are sent directly to compatible mobile phones and tablets in the affected area and provide information about what is happening and what you should do to stay safe.

For most people, emergency alerts are an important safety tool. However, if you are experiencing domestic abuse and have a secret or secondary phone that an abusive partner does not know about, an emergency alert could put you at risk by revealing that device.

What happens when an emergency alert is sent?

When an alert reaches your phone or tablet, your device may:

• Make a loud, siren-like sound for around 10 seconds
• Vibrate
• Display a message on the screen
• Read the alert aloud, depending on your accessibility settings

The alert can make a sound even when your phone is on silent.

Emergency alerts work using mobile phone networks. You do not need to have mobile data, Wi-Fi or location services switched on to receive one. Alerts are based on your device’s approximate location at the time rather than your home or registered address.

Do you have a hidden or secondary phone?

Some people experiencing domestic abuse keep a second phone hidden from their partner or former partner so they can safely contact friends, family or support services.

If this applies to you, an emergency alert could cause that phone to make a loud noise and vibrate, potentially revealing where it is hidden.

You can turn emergency alerts off.

If receiving an emergency alert could put you at risk, you can choose to disable them on your device.  We never know when we will experience one, like Friday’s nights National UK warning so here are some instructions on how to turn these off.

On an iPhone:

Go to Settings > Notifications, scroll to the bottom of the screen and switch off Extreme Alerts and Severe Alerts.

On an Android phone:

Search your phone’s settings for Emergency Alerts, then switch off Extreme Alerts and Severe Alerts.

Phone settings can vary depending on the manufacturer and software version. Official instructions are available through GOV.UK.

Important: The Government recommends keeping emergency alerts switched on where it is safe to do so because they can provide important information during a life-threatening emergency. However, your personal safety comes first. If an alert could expose a hidden device to an abusive person, consider whether turning alerts off is the safer option for you.

Other ways to protect a hidden phone

If you have a phone that you need to keep private, think carefully about how and where you use it.

Where possible:

• Keep the device somewhere the abusive person is unlikely to find it.
• Use a safe device when accessing domestic abuse support if you think your usual phone, tablet or computer may be monitored.
• Consider whether notifications, calls, alarms, vibration or screen lighting could reveal the device.
• Be cautious about location sharing, shared Apple or Google accounts and apps that may reveal your activity or location.
• Avoid making sudden changes to accounts or devices if you believe doing so could increase the risk to you.

We recommend using a device you know is safe if you are concerned that someone may be monitoring your technology.

If an emergency alert appears on your phone

If it is safe to do so, read the message and follow the instructions provided.

Genuine UK Emergency Alerts will not ask you to provide personal information or payment. An alert may contain a telephone number or a link to GOV.UK where you can find further information.

You can also check current and previous official alerts on the GOV.UK Emergency Alerts website.

We are here to help

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, controlling behaviour or are worried about your safety, Broxtowe Women’s Project can support you.

You do not have to wait until you are ready to leave a relationship to ask for help. We can listen, talk through your options and help you think about ways to stay safer.

Remember

If you have a secret phone, check its emergency alert settings before an alert or national test takes place.

A few minutes checking your settings could help ensure that a device you rely on for support remains private.