Public emergency alerts to be sent to all UK smartphones on 23rd April

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HumberFlyer said:

So in the future if and when they send an alert, will it be targeted to certain phones at certain locations or sent to everyone. I wouldn't want an alert when there is severe flooding or out of control fires in say Manchester and I live in Cleethorpes.

My simplistic understanding is they trigger the alert at specific cellular towers, so all phones in range of that tower get the alert.

(But as before, what appears trivial to me is probably a herculean task for the people who actually have to make it work)

Martin_the_Unjust

I would like to think it would be useful but unfortunately I suspect it’ll be about as useful as the warnings on the motorway gantries.

EssexExile

Martin_the_Unjust said:

I would like to think it would be useful but unfortunately I suspect it’ll be about as useful as the warnings on the motorway gantries.

I've sussed those motorway signs. If it says "Debris ahead" there is a small possibility that there may be debris somewhere over the next 20 miles or so. If it says "Reports of debris ahead" it means someone we don't trust has told us that there may be debris somewhere but we're not sure if there really is debris and if there is it may not be on this stretch of the motorway or even this motorway.

One has learnt to ignore them, while remaining vigilant at all times of course.

Martin_the_Unjust

EssexExile said:

Martin_the_Unjust said:

I would like to think it would be useful but unfortunately I suspect it’ll be about as useful as the warnings on the motorway gantries.

I've sussed those motorway signs. If it says "Debris ahead" there is a small possibility that there may be debris somewhere over the next 20 miles or so. If it says "Reports of debris ahead" it means someone we don't trust has told us that there may be debris somewhere but we're not sure if there really is debris and if there is it may not be on this stretch of the motorway or even this motorway.

One has learnt to ignore them, while remaining vigilant at all times of course.

Yep that’s sounds about right except ‘debris ahead’ can also mean there was debris ahead but it was cleaned up 12 hours ago.

Grumpy_chap

What happens if there actually is an emergency on 23rd April?

mebu60

Grumpy_chap said:

What happens if there actually is an emergency on 23rd April?

St George will ride to the rescue. In England only obvs! 

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Grumpy_chap said:

What happens if there actually is an emergency on 23rd April?

If someone gets their finger out on a Sunday with a football match and the London Marathon and decides an alert is necessary

AND

If they can get the required authorisation (as discussed earlier)

AND

If the system actually works

Then they would just send out another alert that has instructions about what level of panic is required.

The test message clearly says that it is a test and not to do anything.

victor2

Grumpy_chap said:

What happens if there actually is an emergency on 23rd April?

What happens if there actually is an emergency before 23rd April?
We're all doomed Captain Mainwaring! 

Troytempest

The alert system is used in Australia.  In fact I had one when travelling south of Perth in January.  It was used to alert people about location of nearby bush fires and it alerted all phones within a certain radius of particular cell towers.

Very useful application of it.

twopenny

Well I've been through

-the end of the world scenario some time in the 50s

-ditto the 'Duck and Cover' info for a nucular attack which is as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike

-I live less than 20 miles from a power station and if that goes up an alert won't help

- lots of places don't have reception where I live

- a pandemic

- on the rare occasion someone gets a gun and waves it around I know because of the police helicopter shining bright lights around the bay and it make a helluva noise.

and my old phone doesn't have an alerts, I've often left it at home or it's switched off. That's normal where I live.

So I guess I'll be toast.

But I do know where the 'secret' bunker is. For council officials only of course but I think I can get there before them ;-)