During the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley in 2021, it was not possible to warn everyone in time. That’s why the authorities are now testing the newly built warning systems. The mix of warning agents is also important.
Warning of a catastrophe: How important this can be was shown in parts of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia in the summer of 2021. At least 135 people died in the once-in-a-century flood in the Ahr Valley alone. Many were not informed in time about the impending danger of the rapidly rising river level. They simply didn’t have time to get to safety.
After the flood disaster, a debate began as to how the warning systems in Germany could be improved. Federal and state representatives quickly realized that it was a mistake to have dismantled sirens on a large scale starting in the mid-1990s. After the end of the Cold War, the systems were considered unnecessary in many places.
Another 47 million euros for sirens
So the federal and state governments put money into their hands: 86 million euros, which still came from Corona aid funds, went to the reconstruction of sirens. A further 47 million euros are available for the current and next year.
“Sirens are unbeatable when it comes to the wake-up effect,” says Ralph Tiesler. For the President of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (BKK), Germany needs a dense network of sirens again. “Many of us associate the sound of a siren with an alarm: ‘I need to find out more. There is something that concerns me!'”
Today at 11 a.m. Tiesler’s authority will trigger several of the sirens across the country. “It’s getting loud,” says the BBK boss in an interview with SWR. However, only modern sirens can be controlled centrally. For older models, those responsible have to flip a switch on site. In total, Germany currently has around 38,000 functioning sirens.
Smartphones are supposed to be loud
But the sirens are just one component of this nationwide warning day. Most people will probably startle if their cell phone makes shrill noises in the morning. The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief uses the so-called Cell Broadcast System: Nobody has to register or download a specific app onto their smartphone. It should be enough if the device is switched on and has mobile phone reception.
The cell phone then not only emits the warning tone, but also displays a text message with the official warning. Anyone who has installed a warning app such as Nina or Katwarn should also be informed about the test alarm. Finally, the BBK warns via radio, television and digital display boards in cities – as well as at train stations and on trains.
Authority chief Tiesler speaks of a stress test for the entire system. It is put through its paces because all channels are triggered at the same time. The different warning devices have different functions: sirens and cell phone warning tones can indicate that there is actually a danger. People find out exactly what it is about, for example, through the media or warning apps.
It depends on the mix of warning agents
The warning agent mix must work, says Juliane Seifert, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of the Interior. With just one warning device, you can never address the entire spectrum of the population: young and old, urban and rural. The more warning channels you use, the greater the likelihood of reaching as many people as possible.
The population has become more sensitive to the topic, explains Seibert. People wanted to be informed. She cites the corona pandemic and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine as the reason for this.
A lot went wrong on the first nationwide warning day in 2020. The then BBK boss Christoph Unger therefore had to vacate his post. Things went better with the second test alarm in December 2022: nine out of ten people heard the warning message via at least one channel, as later surveys showed.
“We are very satisfied with that,” says BBK President Tiesler. But he also says: “There is more possible.” His federal office wants to use the findings from the warning days to further expand the warning systems.