Crisis-Ready Society
Foundations

Emergency alerts and staying informed

Knowing how official warnings reach you, and having a way to hear them without power or internet, can buy precious time. This page covers phone alerts, radios, official channels and avoiding rumours.

Foundation for every scenario
In the UAEThe UAE National Early Warning System, launched in 2017, sends phone alerts about dangerous weather with safety steps. NCEMA, the Ministry of Interior, the seven emirates' police and the Ministry of Health and Prevention can send them. National numbers: 999 police, 998 ambulance, 997 fire department (civil defence).[6]

Prepare

  • Find out how your country sends emergency alerts to phones.[1]
  • Keep a battery, solar, wind-up or car radio so you can follow news in a power cut.[2]
  • Note your local emergency radio frequencies on your paper contact list.[3]
  • Sign up for official weather and flood warnings where they are offered.[1]
  • Charge phones and power banks when a storm or disruption is forecast.[2]
  • Keep your phone software up to date.[2]

Use and maintain

  • Stop what you are doing when an alert sounds and follow its instructions.[1]
  • If driving, pull over somewhere safe and legal before reading an alert.[1]
  • Follow updates from local authorities on radio, TV and official websites.[4]
  • Confirm serious news with official government sources before acting.[5]
  • Be wary of posts that provoke strong emotions, and share only trusted information.[5]
  • Check facts against more than one source.[5]

Review and restock

  • Keep listening to official channels until authorities say the danger has passed.[4]
  • Recharge devices and replace radio batteries once power returns.[2]
  • Check on neighbours and relatives and pass on official information.[2]
  • Sign up for any local weather, flood or air quality alerts you were missing.[1]

Watch

Short how-to videos for this topic are being added to our channel.
Watch Crisis-Ready Society on YouTube

Official sources

  1. UK Government (Prepare): Alerts and warnings
  2. Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF): Access to communication during a crisis
  3. UK Government (Prepare): Get prepared for emergencies
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Before, During, and After an Emergency
  5. Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF): Psychological defence
  6. UAE Government Portal (u.ae): Handling emergencies

Steps are written in our own words from these pages. If advice from your local authority differs, follow your local authority.

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