Emergency alert

Gov.uk says "Emergency Alerts is a UK government system that provides warning and advice in a life threatening emergency". Alerts may be sent for any type of life threatening emergency, and the page gives wildfires, severe flooding and extreme storms as examples. They are sent only by the emergency services and by government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies.

When an alert arrives a phone or tablet may make a loud siren-like sound even if set to silent, vibrate and read the alert out. The sound and vibration last about ten seconds. Alerts go to the phone's current location, not the owner's home or work address, and location services do not need to be on.

The advice is to stop and follow the instructions in the alert. Anyone driving or riding should find somewhere safe and legal to stop before reading it. People without a compatible device will still be informed, as the emergency services have other ways to warn of a threat to life, and the page says the system "will not replace local news, radio, television or social media". The service never sends emails or asks for personal details, and past alerts can be checked on the site.