Frequently Asked Questions
This Thursday at 11am there will be a loud noise. At least if everything goes according to plan. On National Alert Day, a test alert should be issued through various channels. What exactly is happening and what needs to be considered.
As the fourth warning day approaches, another nationwide test run of Germany’s warning system is imminent. At 11 a.m. on Thursday, the federal and state governments want to test-operate the disaster warning system, and municipalities can also participate. Overview.
How does the warning date work?
At approximately 11 a.m., the federal Bureau of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) issued a test alert via the federal government’s so-called modular warning system, which is transmitted through a so-called alert multiplier.
These are operators of warning apps, such as the Nina warning app run by BBK, relief and rescue services or media, especially TV and radio stations. But they also include companies such as railway companies or operators of digital displays and city information boards. They are obliged to post warnings.
The pre-written warning messages from the authorities are immediately read on the radio, played on Internet media sites, and displayed as push messages on smartphones and on some 7,900 electronic boards in the city and at train stations. In addition, local disaster control authorities activate warning systems such as sirens and loudspeaker trucks when necessary.
All clears are provided by 11:45 a.m. – excluding cell phone broadcasts. Local governments may participate voluntarily.
What is the warning date?
The annual Alert Day is intended to test the alert systems and technical processes that can be used in emergency and disaster situations. Stress testing of alert systems is intended to identify weaknesses. Alert Day is also an event to inform people about the processes involved in official alerts and to raise awareness of the topic.
The importance of warning systems became clear during the flood disasters in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia in the summer of 2021, when people were not informed of impending danger in time. This led to extensive discussions about how to improve them.
Among other things, the federal government has funded almost 90 million euros for the expansion of the siren network. In addition, a nationwide system for so-called cell broadcasting has been established. Short SMS messages containing official warnings are sent directly to all mobile phones connected to the mobile network.
What exactly is a cell broadcast?
Cellular service allows you to send bulk alert messages directly to your mobile phone via the mobile network. This service works without an app. The prerequisites are that your operating system is up to date, your phone is turned on, and it is not in airplane mode. Some older devices cannot receive cell broadcast messages. The messages are also relatively short and can only convey basic information.
Along with warning apps and sirens, cell broadcasting is now one of the most widespread and effective warning devices.
Where are sirens used?
There is currently no overview of where sirens can and cannot be used. A BBK spokesperson admitted that a nationwide overview is still missing, in response to a request from dpa news agency. “The densification of siren locations is in the hands of local governments and is supported by the federal and state governments through funding programs,” the federal agency said. “The process for exchanging relevant location data between the federal, state and local governments is currently being optimized, so an even more accurate database is expected in the future.”
Last year, Ralph Tiesler, the chairman of the authority, was optimistic. In September 2023, he said that a complete and up-to-date picture of all operational sirens installed in Germany would be available by 2024. “A national siren registry should be available by next year as a platform with up-to-date data,” he explained at the time.
In many places, older sirens have been upgraded or new modern sirens have been installed in recent years. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the devastating floods in the Ahr Valley in 2021 have made many federal, state and local officials increasingly convinced that they must be able to use these warning devices to warn people of crises and disasters.
Do you validate the warning tags?
Yes, a survey will start at the same time as the warning date. Citizens can share their experiences with the test warning on the website www.warntag-umfrage.de. For example, the question is whether the person received the test warning via a mobile phone broadcast, on the radio or through another channel.
The survey closes on September 19. BBK will evaluate the data and issue a report at a later date.
How did the previous warning days pass?
The first national warning day in September 2020 ended in disaster when the BBK central test warning was delayed by 30 minutes. The then head of the authority, Christoph Unger, resigned and the authority was reorganized. In 2021, the warning day was canceled due to continuous improvement of the warning system following previous years’ failures and summer flooding.
According to BBK, on the warning date of December 8, 2022, more than 90% of the German population was contacted via at least one warning channel.
The new cell broadcasting system was first tested on a large scale two years ago and immediately reached 54% of the population. By the warning date of 2023, this figure was already 72%. Overall, last year, 96% of the population was reached through some channels.
Includes material from AFP and dpa
