N Gauge Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Newportnobby on September 07, 2025, 09:03:47 AM

Title: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Newportnobby on September 07, 2025, 09:03:47 AM
For those in the UK don't forget that, subject to connection, your mobile phone will sound an alarm/receive a text message at 3pm today (Sunday 7.9.25)

For those not in the UK, this is to test alarms concerning potential emergencies such as flooding, wildfires, earthquake etc
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: weave on September 07, 2025, 10:13:42 AM
Thanks for reminding me. When they first announced it I thought 'oh that's on my birthday'.

We have a table booked for a pub lunch at 2.30 pm so that should be fun. I'll let you know if anyone who doesn't know panics hysterically :)

Cheers, weave  :beers:
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Bob Tidbury on September 07, 2025, 10:22:42 AM
Many Happy Returns Weave
Bob
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Newportnobby on September 07, 2025, 10:24:43 AM
Quote from: weave on Yesterday at 10:13:42 AMThanks for reminding me. When they first announced it I thought 'oh that's on my birthday'.

We have a table booked for a pub lunch at 2.30 pm so that should be fun. I'll let you know if anyone who doesn't know panics hysterically :)

Cheers, weave  :beers:

Tell the others your message says "Oh, by the way, have a Happy Birthday. Chris" ;D
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Bealman on September 07, 2025, 10:25:08 AM
Happy Birthday! Will I hear the alarm here?
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Newportnobby on September 07, 2025, 10:28:26 AM
Quote from: Bealman on Yesterday at 10:25:08 AMWill I hear the alarm here?

I think you'd need bloody good hearing :smiley-laughing:

https://www.gov.uk/alerts
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Bealman on September 07, 2025, 10:41:28 AM
Bit stingey, they could use Whatsapp ;D
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Lagrange1 on September 07, 2025, 10:48:54 AM
Quote from: Newportnobby on Yesterday at 09:03:47 AMFor those in the UK don't forget that, subject to connection, your mobile phone will sound an alarm/receive a text message at 3pm today (Sunday 7.9.25)

For those not in the UK, this is to test alarms concerning potential emergencies such as flooding, wildfires, earthquake etc

Not having half decent mobile coverage, and therefore not able to receive warning messages, I use a manual system

Flood - walk down the lane to see if the water's over the road
Wildfire - smell the smoke and see the flames
Earthquake - feel the ground shake

Simples!
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Newportnobby on September 07, 2025, 11:04:46 AM
Quote from: Bealman on Yesterday at 10:41:28 AMBit stingey, they could use Whatsapp ;D

Exactly which part of UK Emergency Alarm didn't you understand? :P
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Papyrus on September 07, 2025, 11:40:08 AM
Ah, yes. Thanks for the heads-up, Mick. I think I'll try and be walking the dogs at 3pm - if they hear it go off in the house they are going to freak out and we'll spend the next 2 hours trying to calm them down.

Cheers,

Chris
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: PLD on September 07, 2025, 12:38:39 PM
If you do have concerns about pets etc, you can of course just turn your phone OFF for a few minutes.
It is also possible to disable the alerts (not recommended to do so permanently but OK for the planned tests) - On Android devices, just search for "Emergency Alerts" or "Wireless Alerts" in settings.
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Papyrus on September 07, 2025, 02:12:44 PM
The trouble with turning the phone off of course is that you won't know whether it has worked. We might just keep one phone on.

Cheers,

Chris
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Newportnobby on September 07, 2025, 03:04:47 PM
It didn't work on my ancient Galaxy A12 :-[
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Bob Tidbury on September 07, 2025, 03:24:31 PM
Well the emergency alert worked but according to my Ipad 1 and a half minutes late.
That would make little difference if Putin dropped a nuclear bomb on London we would be toast anyway .
Bob .
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Portpatrick on September 07, 2025, 03:30:15 PM
Quote from: Bob Tidbury on Yesterday at 03:24:31 PMWell the emergency alert worked but according to my Ipad 1 and a half minutes late.
That would make little difference if Putin dropped a nuclear bomb on London we would be toast anyway .
Bob .

mine was a minute late by our radio controlled kitchen clock.  and this time Cathy got it as well as me.  If Putin launches a nuclear on the NATO base at nearby Northwood.  We will stand in the garden and get fried instantly!
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Hiawatha on September 07, 2025, 03:54:44 PM
Quote from: Portpatrick on Yesterday at 03:30:15 PMIf Putin launches a nuclear on the NATO base at nearby Northwood.  We will stand in the garden and get fried instantly!

When you see the flash, you just need to duck and cover to be safe. :)

Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: woodbury22uk on September 07, 2025, 04:15:34 PM
My phone received the alert today.  :)  I can vouch for the value of the system in principle if properly applied, and trustworthy. Two weeks ago I was ordering dinner at a restaurant in Iasi in Romania. The alert of an incoming storm persuaded us to give up our outside table with a stunning view and retreat inside. 10 minutes later 2cm hailstones were bombarding the glass roof of the restaurant and after about 15 minutes when the storm was over the ground outside had a 10cm layer of ice over it. The alert was of special value for the 1000 or so people attending a concert in a nearby open air theatre. Evacuation of everyone to a safe sheltered area in a neighbouring shopping centre was accomplished without problem apparently.
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: EtchedPixels on September 07, 2025, 05:47:08 PM
Quote from: woodbury22uk on Yesterday at 04:15:34 PMMy phone received the alert today.  :)  I can vouch for the value of the system in principle if properly applied

Yep - it was used in Wales when we had really bad storms.

All the test seems to have discovered so far is that crashed some dog tracking collars  :bounce:

Still waiting to find out if the iphone people fixed the fact you couldn't screen-read the alert as it turned out last time.


Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Bigmac on September 07, 2025, 07:17:48 PM
Quote from: Hiawatha on Yesterday at 03:54:44 PM
Quote from: Portpatrick on Yesterday at 03:30:15 PMIf Putin launches a nuclear on the NATO base at nearby Northwood.  We will stand in the garden and get fried instantly!

When you see the flash, you just need to duck and cover to be safe. :)



in the event of a nuclear attack:

remove your hat

loosen tie and unbutton shirt collar

undo trouser belt

bend down

put your head between your legs

and kiss your arse goodbye.
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: KevTheBusDriver on September 07, 2025, 07:29:48 PM
I had TWO mobiles on me at 15:00 - neither sounded an alarm but I was within hearing distance of many people whose phones DID sound the alarm. Do I just keep my hat on?
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Newportnobby on September 07, 2025, 08:03:44 PM
Quote from: KevTheBusDriver on Yesterday at 07:29:48 PMDo I just keep my hat on?

Joe Cocker and Tom Jones say "Yes"
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Browning 9mm on September 08, 2025, 08:02:54 AM
all peaceful at this location.
old 3G flip phones don't get the alerts, another way for free gear to reduce the pensioner population
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: Bob G on September 08, 2025, 09:59:50 AM
The Lancaster flew south over us yesterday too. Shame it didn't have any single engine Merlin powered aircraft flying as escorts with it, but good to see second gen technology still in use  :D
Title: Re: UK Emergency Alarm Test
Post by: cmason on September 08, 2025, 02:06:52 PM
Living where we do here in Japan I am a regular recipient of emergency alerts on the phone. They can be quite granular depending on what it is for and where one is. For example last Friday due to the typhoon (yes its that season again) it went off about 4 times with landslide risk (due to the heavy rain) emergency evacuation alerts for various parts of various wards within the city. The wind and rain in themselves were not too bad in Yokohama so the typhoon itself did not trigger a warning (not strong enough to be knocking folks over... ) - we do get them though for very bad storms, earthquakes (of course - although the warning interval may not be very long prior to those nasty S-waves turning up as they travel 2 or 3 miles per second ) and tsunami of course. And I guess one day there will be a big one when the top blows off Fuji-san... ah well - similar reaction to that of @Bigmac if a nuke goes off ...