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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
Peripeteia · 15/08/2026 08:45

Starrylawn · 14/08/2026 23:33

I worked on the implementation of this. It’s because you were identified as a high risk offender for some reason

I had 8 alerts between 7pm and 10.05pm. Is this because I’m a high risk offender? (Genuine question).

It seems more like a malfunction to me and was honestly driving me mad. Was happy to receive one alert - seems a sensible public service message but 8?! That is honestly ridiculous.

DoraSpenlow · 15/08/2026 09:04

I was waiting at traffic lights yesterday afternoon when the ambulance behind me suddenly burst into life with sirens and flashing lights. It made me jump. I think I'll start a campaign to reduce emergency service vehicles to just flashing lights so that people aren't momentarily startled.

Sarcasm, just in case someone thinks I'm serious. Honestly, some on here need to get a grip.

Suntherebutnotthere · 15/08/2026 09:11

Peripeteia · 15/08/2026 08:45

I had 8 alerts between 7pm and 10.05pm. Is this because I’m a high risk offender? (Genuine question).

It seems more like a malfunction to me and was honestly driving me mad. Was happy to receive one alert - seems a sensible public service message but 8?! That is honestly ridiculous.

Technical glitch. You can feedback anonymously.
surveys.publishing.service.gov.uk/s/5m75hq

EasternStandard · 15/08/2026 09:15

oviraptor21 · 15/08/2026 01:05

Not true. My phone got the alert but silently. I have my phone on mute pretty much always so maybe that's why. Or maybe there is a setting somewhere.

Anyway, given the absolute tinderbox conditions we are experiencing, I 100% support the use of the warning system today. Maybe it should be utilised for hosepipe bans and similar and not have an opt out.

I always have phone on mute it’s not that, it still made the noise.

But do you really want the same alert for hosepipe bans?

the80sweregreat · 15/08/2026 09:41

Maybe the government should bring back the public information films and show them in schools and put them out on social media. I’m not against this particular idea , but it’s clearly upset a lot of people because of the noise it made and the panic it caused some.
However, whatever the government does is always wrong with a lot of people , so they can’t win.

Therescathairinmybath · 15/08/2026 10:09

Suntherebutnotthere · 15/08/2026 09:11

Technical glitch. You can feedback anonymously.
surveys.publishing.service.gov.uk/s/5m75hq

Thank you for the link. I have requested an option for silent alerts to be made available for the hard of hearing and those with sensory issues. 🙏

thelegacyofdragons · 15/08/2026 10:24

Needtocomeupwithabetterusername · 15/08/2026 02:58

I nearly jumped out of my skin when my dc got theirs earlier on. DH came back from supermarket a little later and said he’d had one. About 2 hours later I got mine and it scared the crap out of me. I poured a glass of wine to calm myself and about 20 minutes later I got a second alert so obviously needed a second glass of wine!

😂

Marisa71 · 15/08/2026 10:47

You need to keep them on really as its for your own safety. I know they're frightening, I thought it was an alarm in my hoùse at first but what for I didn't know ??

Itsasecretnow · 15/08/2026 11:05

PussyGaylore · 14/08/2026 20:03

I had mine in Welsh! Had no idea what it was all about. Got the English one about 3 mins later. Seems a bit annoying that I can’t opt out of getting Welsh notifications when I hardly speak the language and those Welsh speakers amongst us get a head start!

You know the way herds of wild animals sense something is going to happen before it does, and off they all suddenly stampede away? Well, I think you need to keep an eye out for any sudden movement amongst the groups of Welsh speakers nearby and get ready to run! 😄
(but yes, I get the problem there!)

Itsasecretnow · 15/08/2026 11:09

Itsasecretnow · 15/08/2026 11:05

You know the way herds of wild animals sense something is going to happen before it does, and off they all suddenly stampede away? Well, I think you need to keep an eye out for any sudden movement amongst the groups of Welsh speakers nearby and get ready to run! 😄
(but yes, I get the problem there!)

I’ve actually just checked and mine is still in my pull down notifications. I honestly can’t remember if I clicked on it at some point, I assume I must’ve. It did remind me to look on my phone to remind myself where in the settings it was hiding. Just so I knew, I’m not going to disable either of the alerts.

Government alert?!?!
SandAndSea · 15/08/2026 11:52

Headinthecloudsfeetontheground · 15/08/2026 07:37

Blasted politicians, trying to save lives.... Tssssk!!

Do you really think that's what they do?

LakieLady · 15/08/2026 11:59

MiceSpiders · 14/08/2026 19:09

I think the fire in Stourbridge has taken out about 20 houses, it seems appropriate to me to just it. We've had several wildfires near us in the last couple of weeks and tbh the fire service bed to be available for those, not people twatting about with tin foil tray BBQs

Absolutely this.

Half the houses in the next road from me back onto fields with public footpaths running through them. I've seen people sitting in the field having barbecue picnics plenty of times. Because we're high on a hill, it's generally breezy too, so easier for a fire to take hold and to spread.

With everything in the gardens so incredibly dry, it wouldn't take much for a fire to take hold, as we've seen in Stourbridge. And people can be both daft and selfish, often simultaneously.

It would have been better for the warning message to have been sent solely to the daft and selfish, but they're not an easy group to identify, so sending it to everyone is perfectly sensible.

LakieLady · 15/08/2026 12:09

FinallyDecided · 14/08/2026 19:11

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?

You've really got to wonder how some people's minds work sometimes.

The grass on the downs where I live is tinder-dry and pretty much the same in the gardens. I wouldn't risk smoking a ciggie out there, let alone have a barbecue.

DoraSpenlow · 15/08/2026 12:22

Starrylawn · 14/08/2026 23:33

I worked on the implementation of this. It’s because you were identified as a high risk offender for some reason

Please tell us how a signal to all mobiles in the area of a transmitter picks out high risk offenders? Really interested to know. Do the authorities go round taking the mobile numbers of potential arsonists and people who at some stage in life might have a bonfire of BBQ?

Itsasecretnow · 15/08/2026 12:30

LakieLady · 15/08/2026 11:59

Absolutely this.

Half the houses in the next road from me back onto fields with public footpaths running through them. I've seen people sitting in the field having barbecue picnics plenty of times. Because we're high on a hill, it's generally breezy too, so easier for a fire to take hold and to spread.

With everything in the gardens so incredibly dry, it wouldn't take much for a fire to take hold, as we've seen in Stourbridge. And people can be both daft and selfish, often simultaneously.

It would have been better for the warning message to have been sent solely to the daft and selfish, but they're not an easy group to identify, so sending it to everyone is perfectly sensible.

Well, tbf, I think the next time there’s an alert they’ll be the ones still hanging around in the danger zone and not evacuating so they’ll be easy to spot them! 🤔

Itsasecretnow · 15/08/2026 12:39

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/crjejgz55k7pt
Those of you still moaning about the alerts maybe you need to go and read/watch this, so you can see that at any point it could be any one of your homes next. But I’m betting that you won’t actually go and read it. There’s lots of pictures and videos tho, if there’s too many long words… I imagine any of these people (and everywhere else that’s affected) would’ve given their right arm to have had this alert a few days ago, for the small chance that it might’ve made someone think twice so that it may never have happened.
This shit is serious, check your privilege of not living somewhere that the fires are happening. But any of us could be, at any time. And that is why we need alerts. We shouldn’t need to have them but unfortunately we do, because people are stupid and ignorant.

West Midlands fires: Homeowners return home and assess the damage after houses burned down in fires

Dozens of houses have been fully destroyed or severely damaged by blazes in the region, according to the fire service.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/crjejgz55k7pt

Sesma · 15/08/2026 12:44

Itsasecretnow · 15/08/2026 12:39

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/crjejgz55k7pt
Those of you still moaning about the alerts maybe you need to go and read/watch this, so you can see that at any point it could be any one of your homes next. But I’m betting that you won’t actually go and read it. There’s lots of pictures and videos tho, if there’s too many long words… I imagine any of these people (and everywhere else that’s affected) would’ve given their right arm to have had this alert a few days ago, for the small chance that it might’ve made someone think twice so that it may never have happened.
This shit is serious, check your privilege of not living somewhere that the fires are happening. But any of us could be, at any time. And that is why we need alerts. We shouldn’t need to have them but unfortunately we do, because people are stupid and ignorant.

Maybe they should have given them a proper alert about it at the time which is what the alert system is meant to be for

NovemberMorn · 15/08/2026 12:52

LakieLady · 15/08/2026 11:59

Absolutely this.

Half the houses in the next road from me back onto fields with public footpaths running through them. I've seen people sitting in the field having barbecue picnics plenty of times. Because we're high on a hill, it's generally breezy too, so easier for a fire to take hold and to spread.

With everything in the gardens so incredibly dry, it wouldn't take much for a fire to take hold, as we've seen in Stourbridge. And people can be both daft and selfish, often simultaneously.

It would have been better for the warning message to have been sent solely to the daft and selfish, but they're not an easy group to identify, so sending it to everyone is perfectly sensible.

I agree.
Unlike many here I didn't almost have a heartr attack, feel the alert uneccesary, or just like to moan for moanings sake. Neither am I a scaremonger, seeing doom and gloom everywhere I look, but the risk of fires breaking out almost anywhere is a now real risk.

I am surrounded by bone dry fields, the grass was allowed to grow and turn into bush and shrub, it's now been cut not collected, and sits on the ground ripe for a stray match or idiots with disposable BBQ's to create disaster for all surrounding properties.

Andy Burnham was right when he said the UK is like a tinderbox, I have never known it be like this before....and I have been around a long time.

This is a new threat, and one I think will become more and more common in summers to come.

JudgeJ · 15/08/2026 12:59

Catpuss66 · 14/08/2026 22:47

In the 70’s there were loads of public information adverts, about ringing the coastguard , clunck click every trip ( seatbelts), swimming sure others will contribute, some of them as a child were really scary.

Don't forget the AIDs information leaflets in the 80s !

Sometimessmiling · 15/08/2026 17:56

MrsM2025 · 14/08/2026 19:04

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

YABU . You would be moaning if you weren't told and it was nearby...... people are losing houses. Try a little empathy

Serenstar1 · 15/08/2026 18:09

We were staying in a UK holiday cottage. My phone was in the lounge with my Dd's, DH had popped to the shop and I was in the bedroom packing to come home. My first thought was, 'Oh shit, what alarm have the girls managed to set off'. It was only when the voice message started playing I realised it was coming from my phone.

I live in an area where there have been many wildfires. One of them there was a strong smell of smoke in my home. I live next to fields and woodland. It is a scary situation. If the alert stops just one idiot causing a fire it's no bad thing.

noodlebugz · 15/08/2026 18:15

We weren’t scared really as just cooking - so read it right away.

I can see that they want people to take the wildfires seriously as this is the first time (according to the guardian) that wildfires (EDIT in the UK) have endangered peoples homes but at the same time what about the safety of people driving who jumped out of their skin when they got the alert through! What if that tiny lapse caused an accident?

I’m on the fence - probably seemed like a nice decisive action from the cobra meeting!

I didn’t get the test alert through I’m kinda glad I got a ‘proper’ one which wasn’t too ‘proper’ if that makes sense.

hcee19 · 15/08/2026 18:28

My backside was just about to hit the toilet seat, when the bloody siren went off. Frightened the life out of me, worked out, l definitely needed the loo

neitherleftnorright · 15/08/2026 18:29

Sirzy · 14/08/2026 19:08

Yes. The country is a tinderbox at the moment. Hundreds of people have been displaced because of fires and lives are at risk.

the message needs to get out there to be careful. This is a way of getting it to a vast proportion of the population at once. It’s exactly what we need the system for

totally agree! Just because people think they are above this kind of thing even if it stops just one person having their property burnt to the ground through no fault of their own by a careless idiot I think it was worth it personally.

Jellykat · 15/08/2026 18:50

I've had quite a few of these, all storm related, so I didn't jump.. however this one came through in Welsh and the English version took ages! DS2 dragged up a bit of Welsh from schooldays and muttered something about a fire.
Que me running outside to sniff the Preseli mountain air for smoke 🫣

I do think it's necessary though, plenty of idiots on our fair land!!

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