Debate about warning sirens: Diepholz district relies on modern technology!

Debate about warning sirens: Diepholz district relies on modern technology!

The discussion about disaster protection in the Diepholz district is very current. On September 9, 2025, the Civil Protection Committee discussed an important topic at a meeting: the comprehensive installation of warning sirens in the event of a disaster. Despite the pressing arguments, the majority of the committee voted 8:6 against a motion from the Independent Voters' Association (UWG), which called for the expansion and modernization of the outdated siren network. Ulrich Helms from the UWG emphasized that sirens are particularly important for alerting people without cell phones or at night. The First District Councilor Jens-Hermann Kleine received support from District Administrator Volker Meyer, who emphasized that responsibility for the siren infrastructure lies with the municipalities.

Opinions within the committee vary widely. While Marco Genthe from the FDP defended the sirens as outdated technology and pointed to mobile phone warning signals as a more effective method, Friedrich Iven from the SPD expressed concerns as to whether all citizens could actually be reached in disaster control. The issue is also burdened by the immense costs of 10 to 15 million euros for additional sirens, which Heiner Lampe from the CDU addressed and emphasized the voluntary nature of the measure. On the other hand, Michael Schnieder from the AfD criticized the discussion and considered the warning sirens to be unnecessary.

The challenges of disaster protection

The Diepholz district is facing growing challenges in disaster protection. Crisis situations such as heavy rain, severe power outages and even natural disasters are rare, but cannot be ruled out. The events since the floods in the Ahr Valley in 2021 and the Ukraine conflict in 2022 have brought the issue into focus. A comprehensive disaster protection plan, which is not publicly accessible, is currently being implemented by the district's civil protection service in order to be able to react quickly if necessary. Activating a disaster response team with trained personnel is crucial to minimizing damage.

The district administration pointed out how important personal precautions are. Citizens can prepare, for example by stocking up on food. In a brochure from the BBK, interested parties can obtain valuable information on emergency preparedness and correct action in emergency situations. The so-called disaster protection lighthouses, which are set up if necessary, are also interesting. These inform the population and enable emergency calls to be made via official digital radio, especially after mobile and landline networks fail.

View of the fire brigade's operations

Another appeal for the importance of disaster control comes from district fire chief Michael Wessels. He reported on 809 fire brigade operations this year, including 18 major fires and 10 traffic accidents with fatalities. At the end of the year, the purchase of two sandbag filling machines is also on the agenda in order to be better prepared in the event of flooding.

Overall, it can be said that disaster protection is more on the agenda in the Diepholz district than ever before. While technical solutions such as sirens or modern warning systems are being discussed, citizen engagement and personal precautions remain a crucial factor for security in crisis situations. The debate about innovative approaches to alerting the population will certainly remain on the political agenda in the future, and everyone is called upon to take their own responsibility seriously and be prepared.