<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A loud alarm will blare from almost every phone in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="" title="Australia"><span>Australia</span></a><span> in five months as a new </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/emergencies/13" rel="" target="" title="emergency"><span>emergency</span></a><span> system is rolled out, scrapping the old SMS alerts and providing a lifeline for people caught up in life-threatening situations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>AusAlert is the nation's latest emergency warning system, which will send urgent messages to compatible </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/phones" rel="" target="" title="phones"><span>phones</span></a><span> within up to 160m of an impacted area.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It will alert people to the type of hazard that they are facing, its severity, whereabouts and importantly what action to take," Emergency Management Coordinator-General Brendan Moon said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australias-best-beaches-named-tourism-australia/0d2386fa-e849-4e51-b1ec-d71df357d2bb" target="_blank"><strong><span>Australia's best beaches revealed by peak tourism body</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The system will consist of two notifications: a critical alert that will sound a loud siren from the phone; and a second message that will detail priority information.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The $132 million system is slated to replace the current state-based SMS emergency alerts, and a nationwide test of the program is scheduled hit phones across the country on July 27 at 2pm before.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The system will officially launch in October.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/new-disaster-alert-system/e4d9e2ac-bf93-48a1-810f-a81d8b9afdeb" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"AusAlert messages will appear differently to our current text-based message systems," Emergency Management Minister Kirsty McBain said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They will appear on locked screens of mobile devices and exist outside of the standard text messaging app."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The system will prioritise natural disasters, however, notifications can also be sent to alert people nearby to other life-threatening situations, such as serious public safety incidents or terrorism.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/hostage-kidnapping-victim-recovered-dural-nsw-police/c27cbcf5-749d-453b-afae-e4de3aa1d577" target="_blank"><strong><span>Alleged kidnapping victim recovered from Sydney property in covert operation</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology" rel="" target="" title="technology"><span>technology</span></a><span> is already used by more than 30 countries for emergency warning communications.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government says the system will be more reliable, accurate and efficient than the current SMS alerts. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>All phones made in 2019 onwards will be compatible with the system, with testing on older phones ongoing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Localised tests are set to begin from June 10 in some areas before the nationwide launch in October.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The rollout of AusAlert comes in response to the 2020 </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/royal-commission" rel="" target="" title="Royal Commission"><span>Royal Commission</span></a><span> into National Nature Disaster Arrangements, with the commission ruling that emergency warning systems, including mobile alerts, are critical during </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/natural-disasters" rel="" target="" title="disasters"><span>disasters</span></a><span>. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>