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Original poster

Government alert?!?!

694 replies

hotmumshit · 14/08/2026 19:02

Uh Oh Wow GIF by Bounce

Omg? First use of the government phone alerts, i think??

OP posts:
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14
Noshowlomo · 14/08/2026 19:14

Shit myself and have got a horrible feeling of being on edge now. My son cried! (To be fair both my husbands and my phone were in the room going off same time!)

RaraRachael · 14/08/2026 19:14

No alert here but then we haven't had any heatwaves.

ATowerOfGiraffes · 14/08/2026 19:14

My parents - who live in central England - got the Welsh version. Well, my mum did. My dad was so confused by the alert he pushed a button and it vanished. So it was utterly pointless as a warning for them (fortunately they are not pyromaniacs). And then they rang me as they were worried it might have been important.

The government shouldn't be scaring the life out of OAPs in this way

leavesinthebreeze · 14/08/2026 19:13

First time I have had one!

melodypondisasuperhero · 14/08/2026 19:13

Came as I was putting the baby to sleep 😩

OkieDokieLemonSmokie · 14/08/2026 19:13

It’s a great idea. Perhaps they should’ve done it on the 1st heatwave rather than the last!

GrinchPink · 14/08/2026 19:13

Just as I’m breastfeeding my baby who is slowly falling asleep ffs. Both of us nearly for heart attack. I got the alert TWICE

Original poster
hotmumshit · 14/08/2026 19:13

hellospring26 · 14/08/2026 19:12

I’m in hospital, all the phones plus the fucking fire alarms were going off

Fire alarms?!

Hope youre okay 💐

OP posts:
Rizzz · 14/08/2026 19:13

SadiraOfTyr · 14/08/2026 19:08

Why on earth would people want to switch them off?? We’ve had them before for severe storms and escaped dangerous prisoners. They can target a local area as well as issuing a national alert.

Because they’ll be sobbing, shaking and crying.

And of course Mumsnetting 😉

glovebox · 14/08/2026 19:13

Screamingabdabz · 14/08/2026 19:09

Jeez the govt can’t keep sending national alerts to just ask people not to be utter morons surely?

I think unfortunately there are a lot of morons who need reminding that they can choose not to behave moronically

LooneyLiberalSpaceWaster · 14/08/2026 19:13

I jumped and my first thought was "oh shit the field is on fire"

Maybe some people don't follow the news or are just actual idiots having bbqs. I don't think its an over reaction as some people ignore polite requests.

Lexy2345 · 14/08/2026 19:13

MrsM2025 · 14/08/2026 19:04

AIBU that I don’t think this alert system should have been used for this?

You don’t think it’s an emergency? Do you watch the news?

PyongyangKipperbang · 14/08/2026 19:12

DD and I are in N. Wales so it came through in Welsh. Understandable but....its tourist season in a dual language nation so might have been a good idea to send it with both languages at the same time! Spent 5 mins with google translate before the English version came through!

CossyBunt · 14/08/2026 19:12

We thought it was the carbon monoxide alarm going off and were preparing to evacuate

ScottChegg · 14/08/2026 19:12

My DH was quite startled and jumped up from his chair. He said it sounds quite a lot like the siren for incoming. 😮

feellikeanalien · 14/08/2026 19:12

Did everyone in the UK get them? I think it might be switched off on my phone as DD gets very anxious about sudden loud noises.

hellospring26 · 14/08/2026 19:12

I’m in hospital, all the phones plus the fucking fire alarms were going off

Original poster
hotmumshit · 14/08/2026 19:12

BBC news alert

Really wish I could watch the news 😕

Government alert?!?!
OP posts:
FinallyDecided · 14/08/2026 19:11

MrsM2025 · 14/08/2026 19:04

AIBU that I don’t think this alert system should have been used for this?

I think you are yes. Saw a family last week having a disposable BBQ in the middle of a massive patch of grass (hay..) the other day. Idiots. Maybe people like that will think twice now?

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 14/08/2026 19:11

Turned off Govt alerts in Covid, no interest

spokenorchid · 14/08/2026 19:11

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Fifiesta · 14/08/2026 19:11

My heart is still in panic mode.
Yes warn the public again on tv & front page in the papers.
Don’t use the phone alert for this, or when there is an immediate risk, no one will pay any attention.
Total misuse of the system.

DreamingOfGeneHunt · 14/08/2026 19:11

I didn't hear it, I was in the shower. We had a fire right beside my block of flats yesterday. Burnt up most of the park and went very near the houses.

Original poster
hotmumshit · 14/08/2026 19:11

Nesbi · 14/08/2026 19:10

I think this system is great - it is a serious message and needs to be understood

I support it, was just very shocked

OP posts:
NewAchievement · 14/08/2026 19:11

SadiraOfTyr · 14/08/2026 19:08

Why on earth would people want to switch them off?? We’ve had them before for severe storms and escaped dangerous prisoners. They can target a local area as well as issuing a national alert.

Because I’m quite capable of looking out the window and see that the weather is severe and am completely not interested in a prisoner who has escaped from a prison 40 miles away!

I’m an adult and I don’t need the government telling me what to worry about! Especially bloody wildfires when it’s raining outside.