How do Government emergency alerts work? Why a test system will push warning messages to phones in April [Video]

A new mobile alert system is to be tested that will sound an alarm on people’s phones warning them of imminent danger.

A UK-wide trial of the new government system will take place on 23 April, when everyone in the country will receive a test alert on their mobile phones.

The Government says the technology will allow more effective response efforts to public emergencies such as flooding and wildfires.

Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said: “It will revolutionise our ability to warn and inform people who are in immediate danger, and help us keep people safe. As we’ve seen in the US and elsewhere, the buzz of a phone can save a life.”

Emergency services, transport officials, and the environment agency were all consulted in developing the tool.

The US, Canada, Japan, and the Netherlands already have similar systems in place to warn people about severe weather events.

A similar warning system in Hawaii infamously caused mass hysteria…