Emergency Alert Tests on 29 June
If you are in Reading on Tuesday 29 June between 1pm and 2pm, you may receive an Emergency Alert via your phone. This is testing a system that may be used in an event of an emergency. It is based on location, not residency, so it will affect everyone in the area, even if they are just passing through or attending the Therapy Centre. Please don’t be alarmed – it is a test – and you can read more below.
We are sharing the following from Reading Borough Council:
The UK government is introducing an emergency alert system using mobile phones. In the event of a flood / nuclear accident / etc, the government and emergency services would have the ability to send a push message to mobile phones in a geographic area using cell broadcasting towers (i.e. not through phone networks) to warn the public about danger and advise how to stay safe.
The test
Reading is part of a pilot of the system and will have a live public test on Tuesday 29 June between 1pm and 2pm. Many people in Reading at that time on that day with a modern mobile phone that is switched on could receive a message, and their phone will ring and vibrate even if it is set to silent. This will happen even if they are driving, in a classroom, in a funeral etc. It is based on location, not residency, so it will affect everyone in the area, even if they are just passing through. The message will appear on the home screen of the phone.
What you need to do
The message is a test, you do not need to take any action.
You can find additional information at https://www.gov.uk/alerts
