UK Sunday 7 September 3 pm Mobile Emergency Alert Test

Might be worth adding a reminder to your calendar (to reduce being startled):

"The national system for sending emergency alerts to mobile phones in the UK will be tested again this September, the government has said.

It will see compatible phones vibrate and make a siren sound for 10 seconds while displaying a message at 15:00 BST on 7 September, even if they are set to silent."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ge9xk8wj0o

Parents
  • I'd forgotten all about it and was trying to make a call when it cut in, then I couldn't get rid of it and had to turn my phone off and on again as it wouldn't let me make any oher call or text, I thought it had totally knackered my phone for a bit, it took about 20 mins before I was able to make another call or text and when I did turn my phone back on it did it again.

    One of the things I was thinking, was where are shelters in the UK, I know there are a few remaining WW2 Anderson shelters that have been repurposed into garden sheds, but unless you live in London or somewhere else with an underground network where are we supposed to shelter?

Reply
  • I'd forgotten all about it and was trying to make a call when it cut in, then I couldn't get rid of it and had to turn my phone off and on again as it wouldn't let me make any oher call or text, I thought it had totally knackered my phone for a bit, it took about 20 mins before I was able to make another call or text and when I did turn my phone back on it did it again.

    One of the things I was thinking, was where are shelters in the UK, I know there are a few remaining WW2 Anderson shelters that have been repurposed into garden sheds, but unless you live in London or somewhere else with an underground network where are we supposed to shelter?

Children
  • I didn't read the details but have been worried about it for a while. From what I understood, most were dismantled or repurposed.

    Where are the UK nuclear bunkers? (civildefence.co.uk)

    As for general shelters in case of bombing there should be a map, but I didn't search.

    If you find it, I'd welcome it.

    There are some companies selling (nuclear?) bunkers from what I can spot, quite funny.

  • One of the things I was thinking, was where are shelters in the UK,

    Real estate is way too expensive for the government to consider turning it over to a non-profitable thing such as a shelter.

    It is going to be up to you if you want to have your own shelter, and you will have to fund it yourself.

    A big thing to consider is, if there was a nuclear war, would you want to live through it? What would life be like? Where could you get food / water / medicines from when the whole infrastructure has collapsed?

    How would you survive in a heavily contaminated environment and protect yourself from groups of people trying to survive by taking from those who still have something?

    If there was a war and the government survived in their official shelters, safe below the surface and equipped for years worth of supplies, do you really think they would be using what meagre resources were left in their control to serve the population or to ensure their own survival?

    I think they would be just as self serving post-war as they are now.

  • When I saw your comment I was reminded that you wondered if you would get it as your phone was older. Good news that you got it.