Twitter has launched its system of emergency alerts in the UK.
The system became active this morning and 57 British and Irish organisations have already signed up to it, including the UK’s 47 police forces, the London Fire Brigade, the Mayor of London’s office, the Foreign Office and the Environment Agency, which warns of flooding risks.
Twitter said its system can help spread vital information when other communication methods are down, such as during disasters or public emergencies.
Employee Steve Summers wrote in an official Twitter blog post: "From today, these organisations will now be able to highlight critical information to their Twitter followers by marking Tweets as alerts, which highlight a Tweet with an orange bell for added visibility.
"We know from our users how important it is to be able to receive reliable information during times of crisis.
"Since launching [in September], the service has been used by international organisations to disseminate information during emergencies involving public safety, accessibility and bad weather."
He listed an example as the runaway car and shooting at the United States Senate in October.
The Senate Sergeant at Arms, responsible for safety and security at the Senate, used the service to tweet: "USCP investigating reports of gunshots on Capitol Hill. If in a #Senate office, shelter in place. If not go to nearest office."
Twitter acknowledged that all the organisations which today signed up to the alerts system already use the site, but added that the new feature means they can provide accurate and important information during disasters.
The Metropolitan Police’s emergency planning chief, Commander David Martin, said: "Getting fast and accurate information to the public in a major incident or terrorist attack really could make a life-saving difference.
"Using social networking sites, including Twitter, gives us additional ways to talk directly to the public. Twitter Alerts means that our messages will stand out when it most matters."
Rita Dexter, deputy commissioner for the London Fire Brigade, added: "People act on information shared on social media. During a major incident accurate, verified and frequent updates are essential. Twitter Alerts will help us communicate quickly during a significant emergency."
