An emergency alert system will be launched across almost all phones in the UK this October.
The system, which is being brought in to provide quick and area-specific warnings, will be rolled out across 85 per cent of phones in Scotland, England and Wales.
A "welcome message" is set to be sent out in October, following a government publicity campaign that will start next month.
The October launch date, first reported by the BBC, comes after trials were held in Reading and East Suffolk earlier this year.
The rollout announcement comes just days after flooding left a cinema and Tesco closed in Inverness amid a yellow thunderstorm warning.
The system is set to provide highly localised warnings for the following emergencies:
- flooding
- fires
- extreme weather
- public health emergencies
Emergency alerts will only be sent by the emergency services or government departments, agencies and public bodies that deal with emergencies.
While the welcome message will go out to almost all UK devices, the chance of receiving an alert will be low for most people.
The government website explains: "Emergency alerts will warn you if there’s a danger to life nearby. In an emergency, your phone or tablet will receive an alert with advice about how to stay safe."
The Government site adds: "You will get alerts based on your current location – not where you live or work."
The government will not need your phone number to send you an alert. You can, however, partly opt out of the system once it is introduced if you wish.
You will not be able to opt out of the most important alerts, according to Government guidance. Once introduced, there will be an 'emergency alerts' setting on Androids and iPhones which can be switched off.
While Touring the Met Office in Exeter on Monday senior Cabinet Office Minister Kit Malthouse told the BBC about the ability to turn weather alerts off.
He said: "You have the ability to turn it off if you really don't want to know that these things are coming to your area and are going to affect you."
The alerts will be free and your data will not be collected or shared, according to the Government. While you can opt out of some alerts, they advise that you do not for your own safety.
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