Sweden is set to test its new mobile emergency alert system, called SE-Alert, in Stockholm and Gotland on September 7th. The test will take place at 3pm alongside the quarterly outdoor emergency siren "Hesa Fredrik".
This means that if you are in the Stockholm area or Gotland, have an up-to-date smartphone which is switched on and connected to a mobile network, you will receive a pop-up text notification accompanied by a loud audio signal and vibration, even if you've got your phone on silent. If you don't want to receive the alert, you should completely switch off your phone.
It's just a test and you don't need to do anything – but it will be sent out to everyone, including children, the elderly and international tourists who just happen to be in the area at the time of the test, so it's worth informing friends and family members of the test in advance if you think they may otherwise get concerned or caught off guard by receiving the notification.
It will be sent out to everyone in the area regardless of whether you have a Swedish or international number, the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency – which is responsible for the test – confirmed to The Local.
You don't have to download an app to receive the notification, it will happen automatically. It's also worth knowing that if you're in Stockholm's neighbouring regions such as Uppsala, Södermanland or Västmanland, you may also receive the test alert (or you may not), because it's sent out using cell broadcast, so it depends on the signal range rather than exact administrative regional borders.
For this first test, the header may be in English. The message itself will be in Swedish followed by English.
SE-Alert will be tested nationwide in December.
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