Need to know
A loud emergency alert was sent to hundreds of thousands of phones in one part of the UK telling residents to ‘stay indoors’ and ‘consider gathering essential items’ over the threat of Storm Goretti
Everything you need to know as emergency alerts issued to Brits over Storm Goretti
- Hundreds of thousands of people in southwest England have been issued an emergency alert on their mobile phones after the Met Office issued a ‘danger to life’ red warning for 100mph winds brought by Storm Goretti.
- Alerts were sent to the Isles of Scilly at 3pm and to Cornwall at 5pm on Thursday.
- Compatible mobile phones in the affected areas emitted a loud, siren-like sound and vibrated for 10 seconds, even if set to silent.
- The alert contains details of the red warning and guidance on staying safe, telling residents to “stay indoors” and “consider gathering torches and other essential items”
- It is the fifth time the emergency alert system has been used in the United Kingdom.
- Met Office weather warnings are in place across the country, and the storm has so far has reached peak speeds of 99mph, recorded at St Mary’s Airport on the Scilly isles.
- Over 25,000 properties in southwest England are currently without power due to Storm Goretti.
READ THE FULL STORY: Emergency alert to be sent to half a million UK phones in rare red weather warning areas
