“It is completely understandable why anxiety arises when such an important notification is not received. I want to reassure you that most often the reason is very simple and easily resolved. Phones by default automatically receive such alerts, but a person can turn them off or mute them. Therefore, we recommend checking the notification settings on your phone,” says T. Grinevičius.
Read more Javtokas Reacting to Balčiūnas’ Resignation: «It Was the Decisive Nail»
How to check your phone settings?
If you suspect that you may have missed important notifications due to settings, for example, those sent nationwide, T. Grinevičius provides a simple guide on how to turn notifications back on.
On Apple phones, go to “Settings,” then select “Notifications” and scroll to the bottom where you will find the option “Government Alerts.” Turn on all three alert types: “AMBER Alerts,” “Alert Level-2,” and “Alert Level-3.” If you do not see these settings, you can update your iOS version.
On Android phones, alert settings may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer, but you can usually find them like this: open “Settings,” select “Notifications,” here you will find “Advanced settings” and tap on “Wireless emergency alerts.” Turn on all alert levels here.
“It is important to emphasize that population warning messages are not related to a specific mobile operator. They are sent through all operators’ networks, so the main reasons why a person may not receive an alert are usually related to phone settings or device software,” notes T. Grinevičius.
Sometimes alerts are sent only in certain areas
Sometimes population warning messages are not sent to the entire country but only to specific areas where there is a danger or it is necessary to inform residents about the situation. In such cases, alerts do not reach and are not intended to reach all residents of Lithuania.
“The recent message about the yellow air hazard was an example of a local alert. It was sent only to the territories of Vilnius city, Vilnius district, Trakai district, and Elektrėnai municipalities, as well as to residents of some municipalities bordering these areas who were in the threat zone at that time. Therefore, people in other Lithuanian cities did not receive it not because of phone or operator problems, but because the specific threat did not cover their territory,” draws attention T. Grinevičius.
Such local alerts cause the most confusion among residents. Hearing about the danger on the news but not receiving a notification on their phone, people start to worry and unnecessarily change device settings. According to T. Grinevičius, one possible solution in the future could be improving the system itself.
“In the future, additional information in the alert message itself would help resolve confusion. For example, it could indicate whether the alert is local or intended for the whole country. This would immediately reassure those residents for whom the message was not intended and prevent unnecessary worry,” says T. Grinevičius.
Read more More than 180 volunteer soldiers participate in international exercises in Latvia
