Please find below information in relation to the Emergency Alerts System 

You may well have seen some information on this on social media; below (in blue) is a summary of the new Emergency Alerts system from Cabinet Office. This system can be used to send a text message to all (modern) mobile phones within a local area.

The Emergency Alerts system is now live - it can be used in a situation where there is a significant threat to life (for example, when a Severe Flood Warning is issued).

The system will be tested on Sunday 23 April - I've attached the Comms Pack, which links to the resources available for social media, posters, etc (and have also attached a couple of the key resources - a leaflet and poster).

Whilst Emergency Alerts will be very positive for most people, we've also been asked by the NHS and the Safer Cumbria partnership to remain aware of the fact that there are people, for example those who experience domestic abuse, who have a secret mobile phone that they may not want to receive alerts as they might reveal its existence/location - they are advised to turn this phone off (or turn off emergency alerts - instructions in info attached) for the test period.

Emergency Alerts

Many of you will have received this information though separate channels. The date for a UK-wide Welcome Message to the Service isSunday 23 April. There is no perfect date for a test and there will of course already be public events taking place on the 23 April which may influence precise timing. I will share the exact timing of the message with this group when I have it.

As many of you will be aware, the system will broadcast messages to people’s phones in the event of a scenario that poses a significant threat to life. Thenational press release went out on Sunday 19th March. As planned previously, the Welcome Message will be sent to all compatible phones in the UK. It will clearly indicate that no action is required and that this is a test of the system. Ahead of this, Cabinet Office is working with partners to deliver the public information campaign in support of the new system.

Cabinet Office Communications and the Emergency Alerts Team are asking that you support the public campaign to ensure that all stakeholders are informed of the Welcome Message date - in particular this relates to ensuring that vulnerable groups are informed about the alerts and are aware of how they can opt out of receiving these. There area range of assets at this google drive and in the slide deck attached (social assets, suggested copy, key messaging, factsheet) available to share across your channels, newsletters, direct mails (both internal and external), web article content & social channels - plus any other channels which are most effective for reaching your audience.Please share the assets across all your channels and networks. You can find out more about Emergency Alerts atgov.uk/alerts