Government Alert caused more angst for domestic violence sufferer’s

[PurpleDisco]

Just heard from a friend who volunteers for a DA shelter that they’ve been inundated with calls today due to the Gov alert yesterday. The main issue being that secret phones that are always on silent mode were suddenly screeching loudly with a siren sound. The emergency siren automatically bypasses silent mode it seems. These secret phones are literally a lifeline for abused women / people and this has put their lives (and possibly children’s) in even more danger than they already were. Can you imagine the abuse and turmoil some women would have gone through last night once these phones were discovered by their abusive partners? Did the Government not think of this increased risk at all?

Did the Government not think of this increased risk at all?

Yes of course they did - hence the reason it's widely publicised how to switch it off.

The question you should be asking yourself is why your friend and the DV charity seem to be so unaware?

YANBU and I didn't think about this but that's a big issue. It's one thing if theres and imminent risk to your life but there wasn't. It was an FYI "lighting fires during a drought can cause fires." It was a careless and irresponsible use of the system.

I didn't know you could switch off the alerts.

But again irresponsible use of the system that encourages people to turn off the alerts because they're probably going to be pointless and then they'll miss something that IS an imminent threat.

I turned mine off after the practice alert. I don’t need to be woken at 3am to tell me there’s a snowstorm coming to the Scottish highlands or whatever.

Unless you live in the Scottish Highlands you wouldn't receive that message.

@Needmorelego you understand what I mean though. Pointless alerts.

No not pointless.
If an incredibly dangerous snow storm was coming at 3am and there may be a need to emergency evacuate - then I would like an alert thanks.

The fire service chief applied to the government for the to deploy it. How is that unnessacery. Do you want peoples homes destroyed?

They can shut it off in the phone settings.

It's obviously very unfortunate for those people, but what do you suggest we do? Not have a country wide alert system? I think that would do more harm than good.

Although I do agree yesterday's alert was a bit unnecessary and maybe a text would have been sufficient!

This is unreasonable, as phones have the option to disable emergency alerts specifically for this reason.

Really sad for those who are abused but it’s been widely known for a while and the phones can either be turned off, a dumb phone, or deactivate the alert on that phone and just keep them on their main/known phone.

I think hopefully now we’ve had a few practices and real ones that people will learn.

but considering we’ve had people staring at the sun through holes in a colander this week - I’m not sure.

Your friend needs to help the people at the charity helps navigate how to turn it off . It has been widely discussed last time. After hearing about a family in france who only managed to escape a forest fire that engulfed their home because of an alert we need to know the system works but people who need secret phones need to plan for it.

unnecessarily harsh on those beaten down and weary trying to hold things together. I wonder whether you have ever been in this situation yourself through no fault of your own…?

Hopefully now all the DV charities will offer regular reminders. Personally I think it was not the correct use of the alert system. I’m not saying the fires are anything to laugh at. It wasn’t an imminent/immediate threat to life for all areas that the alert was sent to, which is what I thought those always would be for. I’m in an area where there have been/still are recent wildfires and of course it’s terrible for those who are being affected. However this alert system should have been more for ‘wildfire moving rapidly towards X, please prepare to evacuate’ type of info rather than ‘hey don’t have bbqs pls thx’ text, info that could have been publicised in so many other ways. People who are stupid and doing illegal or irresponsible bbqs and fireworks aren’t exactly going to stop and change things just because of an alert, or so I imagine. Meanwhile the alert has brought serious risk not only in cases of DV but other vulnerable people. Just an eg but I was calming down my autistic child from her third meltdown of the day, the alert terrified her as well as me, set her off again… and for what? it was not at all relevant to us. I don’t understand why the message needed to be delivered in that dramatic way. But I’d love to know if there’s any stats to show it worked and if someone who’d previously thought about sparking up a bbq on a tinder-dry field actually went ‘oh shit an alert, I won’t discard my embers then’. I feel many people will have now turned them off, in case we start getting them for other non-relevant things, so will miss when there’s actually something vital.

Yes and I got my daughter and left the second he put his hands on me no way would I bring my child up in this environment. My kids come first everytime no excuses. As a child I grew up in this kind of environment and im so damaged from it, its not ok.

Yes but you’d think any DV charity worth it’s salt would know.

It was tested twice & there was widespread publicity about this.

I have had to call Refuge today. It's normally a very long wait to get through & today it was actually the shortest wait I have had so I'm going to call bullshit on that.

It's the latest trend for the tin hat people as you've lost interest in the COVID jabs & now trying to get everyone to turn off the government alerts.

Good for you that you had the strength to make it out. Your judgement of those who can’t is harsh and unsupportive.

@Needmorelego if there was a snowstorm coming then it would have been reported on the weather forecast. Or the BBC weather app. So I’d know about it.

It's better to prevent a fire than run from it when it's too late.

I lost my livelihood to a wildfire a year ago - lost whole crop & barn. All caused by a bbq.

It's suddenly a lot more serious when you are the victim of it.

It is as every bit as serious as the government are telling you. It very much was needed & should have been done much sooner.

Thats what happens when you grow up with shitty parents who dont put you first it makes you harsh and unsupportive against people who don't put their children first and don't protect them.

Well I'm a farmer & I've lost my livelihood to a fire started by a garden BBQ along with a vast section of rare heathland habitat.

That put my life & my kids lives in very serious danger so I would definitely like people aware of the state of emergency & change their behaviour. I couldn't give a toss about a snowstorm heading towards you - I can use a weather app & forecast.

But if you don’t give a toss about a snowstorm for one area, why should those in areas without wildfires give a toss about those of us who are? it is awful you lost so much, and others like you. But imo the alert system was incorrectly used.

"Did the government not think of this...."

Erm yes as it happened, there were 2 tests of the system with widespread publicity & media statements & guidance. Every police force, council & DA service issued advice & social media advice.

There are several states of emergency declared across the country, the fire service are under immense pressure & are at breaking point, the army have been brought in.

The alert was justified, sorry