Disaster protection in the district: 64 new sirens for more safety!

Disaster protection in the district: 64 new sirens for more safety!

The safety of citizens is the focus of the new initiative to increase the number of sirens in Germany. District Administrator Martin Brandl presented exciting news today in the management and situation center: 64 modern siren systems have been purchased in the district in the last two years, 61 of which have already been installed. These measures are part of a nationwide program to optimize the alerting of the population in the event of a disaster.

“We want to ensure that citizens can be warned quickly and effectively in an emergency,” said Brandl. The press conference took place in the secondary school in Bellheim, where the facility for monitoring and coordinating disaster protection measures is housed. It is particularly worth mentioning that a nationwide warning day will take place on Thursday, September 11th at 11 a.m. The functionality of the new sirens is tested here and brought closer to the public.

Necessity and modernization

The total of 64 new sirens are part of a siren funding program that is intended to increase the importance and availability of these warning systems in Germany. Events like the flood disaster of 2021 have shown how important a well-functioning siren infrastructure is, because many of the existing devices no longer meet current standards. The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) has provided municipalities with funding to modernize the technology and create a uniform transmission network. Newly purchased sirens must be able to send out signals such as “population warning” and “all clear” and must be connected to modern warning systems such as the Modular Warning System (MoWaS) and the TETRA-BOS digital radio network.

These developments are particularly significant as there has been a decline in siren installations in recent years following the assumption of “perpetual peace.” Experts, such as Frank Unkroth from the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior, emphasize the need for a warning mix of different instruments so that those parts of the population who do not have access to other warning means are also warned.

A look at the future

The siren funding program was recently extended indefinitely and also supports self-sufficiently operated sirens. A total of 14.5 million euros is available for 2023 and 2024. Nevertheless, the federal states have to raise 45% of the allocated funds themselves, which influences the implementation of the programs. The effectiveness of these measures depends entirely on implementation on the ground and communities are required to actively engage in participation in these important programs.

Nevertheless, educating the population about siren sounds remains essential. The nationwide warning day is a step in the right direction to make citizens aware of the importance of these warning systems. The alarming and often frightening sounds of sirens must not be forgotten because they could save lives in an emergency.