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

Sarahspangles

I skimmed the Wikipedia listing for fatality-causing disasters.  The majority of things crashing or blowing up probably couldn’t be warned about.  Lots of things like smogs and storms had several hours lead time for media coverage and a reminder to check in with family and neighbours.
 

But if someone could get to the button in time, do you think the alarm would have been used during:

1. London bombings 2005, and other terrorist attacks where there might be multiple sites - shelter in place, stay alert, avoid public transport
2. Gunmen on the rampage like the ones in Cumbria and Hungerford - shelter in place
3. Kegworth Disaster 1989 - leave the motorway, emergency vehicles going to major incident 
4. Windscale Fire 1957 (cancer-causing fallout) - stay indoors, close your windows
5. North Sea Storm 1953 - get to high ground
6. Great Sheffield Flood 1864 (reservoir failure) - get to high ground

RumRat

I think too many people are misunderstanding the purpose. As for the sound frightening someone, it's just an alert on your phone. You can hear the sound on this video.....https://youtu.be/lGOWfFYvlEw

strawb_shortcake

I think I'm going to the library that day...

facade

annabanana82 said:

I think I'm going to the library that day...

You have a library?

And it is open?

On a Sunday???

What is your Council Tax bill like? 

EssexExile

MouldyOldDough said:

There are bound to be a few people driving when the "you are about to die" alarm goes off - distracted by noise - crunching in to car in front of them............

Yeah, that always happens when my phone goes off in the car.

Bobo_Brazil

MouldyOldDough said:

There are bound to be a few people driving when the "you are about to die" alarm goes off - distracted by noise - crunching in to car in front of them............

I dont really understand the point of telling us that we are about to be hit by a nuke/comet/tidal wave/rogue gunman or whatever - we can't do anything other than panic

Because after the initial test, in future this is not what it is intended to be used for.  Someone from the Met office let the cat out of the bag in 2020 - remember when the country was placed into tiers and different levels of restrictions? she said in future perhaps the Gov. could send out an alert to force people in different geographical areas to stay home to combat the climate emergency.... 

Grumpy_chap

MouldyOldDough said:

There are bound to be a few people driving when the "you are about to die" alarm goes off - distracted by noise - crunching in to car in front of them............

....and, thus, the warning will prove to have been accurate

MouldyOldDough

Many drivers will have their phones in their pockets and when the alarm goes off - they are going to be surprised with an unrecognised loud noise and will, automatically pull their phones  out of their pockets and be distracted from whats going on around them for a few seconds - this will cause several accidents.on the motorway. People will automatically brake and grab their phones - even though it is STILL illegal to do so !!

And before anyone says "But everyone is aware of the alert" - THEY ARE NOT - there's going to be a small percentage of people who are not aware and an even smaller percentage of those people driving their cars on the motorways at the time....

I'm going to steer clear of roads on 23rd April at 3pm.....

MouldyOldDough

Sarahspangles said:

I skimmed the Wikipedia listing for fatality-causing disasters.  The majority of things crashing or blowing up probably couldn’t be warned about.  Lots of things like smogs and storms had several hours lead time for media coverage and a reminder to check in with family and neighbours.
 

But if someone could get to the button in time, do you think the alarm would have been used during:

1. London bombings 2005, and other terrorist attacks where there might be multiple sites - shelter in place, stay alert, avoid public transport
2. Gunmen on the rampage like the ones in Cumbria and Hungerford - shelter in place
3. Kegworth Disaster 1989 - leave the motorway, emergency vehicles going to major incident 
4. Windscale Fire 1957 (cancer-causing fallout) - stay indoors, close your windows
5. North Sea Storm 1953 - get to high ground
6. Great Sheffield Flood 1864 (reservoir failure) - get to high ground

Mobile phones in 19th century ?

MikeyPGT

My normal ringtone makes me jump everytime - I'm hoping that the alert will be one of those that only young people can hear so that us oldies whose hearing has deteriorated can just sleepwalk to our doom ...