Aussies around the country have claimed they did not receive an AusAlert emergency test message.
The ten-second message was sent out to mobile phones at 2pm (AEST), acting as a drill to ensure Australians were able to receive the alert.
However, many claimed their phone never beeped when the clock ticked over to the hour, or at least didn’t work the way it was intended to.
‘Well that right there encapsulates the whole AusAlert debacle. One phone worked, but the other one, crickets,’ one said.
‘Is an iPhone 15 seriously too old to receive the AusAlert? Damn, guess I’ll die,’ a second said.
‘I turned AusAlert off in the notifications but still got the message, half the people at work didn’t receive it, so does that mean in an emergency they don’t get notified?,’ another said.
‘My AusAlert came through like ten minutes late,’ a fourth said.
Some also said the alarm caused more issues instead of just being a routine test.
Aussies around the country have claimed they did not receive an AusAlert emergency test message
‘Has that AusAlert crashed anyone else’s home internet? Mine went down exactly at 2pm and hasn’t come back yet,’ one said.
‘Didn’t get the alert because I had the common sense to turn off my phone during the test, but the internet being down is… troubling.’
Ahead of the test, the AusAlert website advised that devices would vibrate or sound an alarm even when set to silent or Do Not Disturb, and that turning the device off or switching it to aeroplane mode were the only ways to avoid the alert.
For those who did not receive the alert, the website noted that older or incompatible devices may not support the emergency warning system.
It also said some devices may not have been running a software version capable of receiving the alerts.
Other possible reasons include a lack of mobile reception at the time of the test, or issues with the nearest mobile tower, such as maintenance, a power outage or other service disruptions.
With the test now complete, the AusAlert website said those who did not receive the message do not need to take any action.
‘It’s just a test,’ it said.
The ten-second message was sent out to mobile phones at 2pm (AEST), acting as a drill to ensure Australians were able to receive the alert
‘We expect devices to behave differently during the national test.
‘You may get the alert at the exact test time, while someone you know receives it later or not at all.’
In a real emergency, the alert is expected to provide details on the type and location of the emergency, its severity, steps to take, the emergency organisation that sent the alert, and where to find more information.
more to come
