If you are in the vicinity of an impending emergency, the government sends a message to your smartphone via NL-Alert with information and instructions. Monday, December 7, 2020, around 12:00, the service will be tested. But how do you set up NL Alert on your iPhone, Samsung or other Android phone? Here's how.
This Monday, the government will send a control message to all smartphones via NL-Alert around 12:00 pm. This function is tested once in a while. The government uses NL-Alert during imminent emergencies to send a message to the people who are in the vicinity of the situation and provide information and instructions. The service is used, for example, in the event of fires, severe weather or an imminent flood. NL-Alert also works if the network is overloaded, but must be set up for this. This happens automatically on some phones, but this is certainly not the case on all smartphones. Read below how to make the service available per smartphone.
The Ministry of Justice and Security yesterday announced a new round of inspections.
iPhone
On the iPhone it is very easy to prepare your phone for NL-Alert. Go to Settings and then to Notification. Scroll all the way down there and make sure the slider next to Emergency notifications is on green. If all goes well, you will receive the control message from NL-Alert around 12:00. The option only works from the iPhone 4s with iOS 7, the service is not available on older versions.
android
On older Android phones, the setup is a bit more work because more steps are required. On new Android smartphones, the feature is enabled by default.
Samsung
Do you have a Samsung from before 2012? At a Samsung you have to go to Messages / Option Button / Settings / Cell Broadcast go and there Cell Broadcast switch. Afterwards My Channel select and enable a new channel. The channel is given the name NL-Alert at Channel name and at Channel number you enter 919 in. Make sure you check the box Enable channel checked and save the changes. Your Samsung must then receive the messages from NL-Alert. The feature also works on smartphones from before January 2012.
Sony, LG and HTC
The option is already set automatically on Sony smartphones, and this should also be the case on LG and HTC phones that were released later than 2012. If you are in doubt about this, you can find the option on the LG within the Cell Broadcast app. Press the three dots and then Institutions. NL-Alert should already be checked. If not, choose Channels > Add Channel. Enter at Channel number 919 in and at Note NL-Alert. Then press Save.
For an HTC device, go to Main menu / Settings / Calling and tick you Cell Broadcast at. Then choose Cell Broadcast Settings and then insert a channel. Bee Channel name Then fill in NL-Alert and add Channel number 919. If you after Enable channel tick and on OK Press NL-Alert is set.
Motorola
Do you own a Motorola phone? Then go to Menu / Settings / Sound / Emergency Alerts. Then tick Extreme Threats display on. Your Motorola device is now set up for NL-Alert.
Other smartphones
On devices with a raw version of Android, such as a Pixel, Pixel 2, Nexus and OnePlus phones, go to Settings / More / Emergency broadcasts and there you tick View Extreme Threats at. NL-Alert is already available on the other smartphones, so you don't have to do anything. If you want to be sure whether the service is properly set up on your smartphone, you can consult the 'Setting Help' for each smartphone on the NL-Alert site to make sure it is correctly installed on your phone.
NL-Alert is free and also anonymous, and the messages are only sent if you are in the area where the emergency occurs. Your name and telephone number are not required and remain unknown.
