Nationwide Warning Day: The sirens will sound here on September 11th!

Nationwide Warning Day: The sirens will sound here on September 11th!

On Thursday, September 11th, sirens and smartphones will once again be the focus in Germany. Then the nationwide warning day takes place, which is intended not only to increase awareness of safety, but also to test the functionality of warning systems. At 11 a.m. in many cities, including Mörfelden-Walldorf, the “population warning” signal is triggered with an impressive, one-minute rising and falling howling tone. The subsequent all-clear is given at 11:45 a.m. with a strong, one-minute continuous tone, as echo-online.de reports.

But what exactly is behind this warning day? The aim is to raise awareness among the population and test the various warning systems. Not only the acoustic alarm via sirens is tested, but also the warning via the federal government's innovative cell broadcast system, which is active in parallel with the siren activation. This system is intended to help warn those who may not hear the siren, whether on the road or in their own home. It is now possible to receive warnings conveniently on private smartphones, as the hessenWARN app is available free of charge in the app stores and complements the already well-known warning apps KATWARN and NINA. These warnings are also issued at the same time in the Groß-Gerau district.

Experiences and outlook

As the last warning days have shown, the nationwide warning day offers valuable insights into how the warning systems work. The test on September 14, 2023 showed that not all sirens worked perfectly throughout, but most warnings could be provided via cell phones and apps through sufficient cellular connections. The Ministry of the Interior of Hesse received predominantly positive feedback. During the test, all Hessian municipalities were active with sirens and the overall feedback was very encouraging, even if some technical challenges were noticeable. In particular, older analogue and digital radio sirens have sometimes failed, which can be attributed to the outdated software. All sirens in Hesse are to be updated by the end of 2024 to resolve these difficulties.

Another highlight of the coming warning day will be the first testing of the “919” warning channel, which was specially developed to also reach older cell phones. The mobile phone providers, including Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica, have given consistently positive feedback for the warning systems. Vodafone in particular reported that warnings were successfully delivered to over 2,200 mobile phone stations in Hesse. Nevertheless, the demand for feedback on triggering the alarm remained high in order to update and improve the system as quickly as possible.

conclusion

The nationwide warning day is therefore much more than a simple test - it offers a platform for optimizing the security infrastructure and for closer communication between the authorities and the population. Take the opportunity to find out about the warning systems on offer and take your own safety into your own hands. In Mörfelden-Walldorf we will be ready to hear the sirens and heed the warnings. Prepare and join the initiative. Security concerns us all, as hessenschau.de reports.

The nationwide warning day itself is coordinated by the BBK and is dedicated to testing the warning systems. Let us work together to ensure that we are optimally prepared in an emergency!