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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Tom Meltzer

Disaster texts: what would the government's warnings be like?

Ever worried no one will tell you about the zombie apocalypse until it's too late? Well snap out of it, because zombies don't exist. And anyway, if they did, Britain's National Security Council's new emergency warning plan – which sends text messages to every phone in a disaster area – might just save you. As well as alerting us to the risen dead, the system will be used for chemical leaks, pandemics, natural disasters and major crimes, to steer us away from the danger and let us know how to seek help. With the first of several trial runs due to be carried out in the market town of Easingwold in North Yorkshire tomorrow, we've taken the liberty of imagining some sample messages:

1. Radiation disaster!

Warning message 1

2. Lunar eclipse!

Warning message 3

3. Flood!

Warning message 3

4. Economic catastrophe!

Warning message 4

5. Radiation disaster II!

Warning message 5

6. Ultimate catastrophe!

Warning message 6

What else could they use the system for? Tell us below.

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