Dear Sir or Madam!
Tomorrow, on Saturday, October 5, 2024, the Austria-wide civil protection test alarm will be carried out as in previous years. The three civil protection signals "warning", "alarm" and "all clear" will sound throughout the country between 12:00 and 12:45 p.m., after the "siren test" signal. The aim of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BM.I) is to familiarize citizens with the civil protection signals and at the same time to test the function and range of the sirens and the KATWARN warning system (detailed information at www.katwarn.at).
This is therefore a pure test alarm!!!
Zivilschutzprobealarm2024_Wasistneu.pdf herunterladen (0.29 MB)
The more than 8,000 sirens and, for the first time, the new AT-Alert will be triggered on all cell phones in Austria. We therefore ask you to make people in your personal environment aware that a warning tone and a message - that this is a test alarm - will appear on every cell phone during this hour. Older people in particular, who only use their cell phone to make calls, could be frightened by this alarm tone! It may also happen that they cannot read the message because they only use their cell phone to make calls.
Between 12 noon and 12.45 p.m., after the "siren test" signal, the three civil protection signals "warning", "alarm" and "all clear" will be broadcast throughout Austria. The test alarm serves on the one hand to test the technical equipment of the warning and alarm system, and on the other hand to familiarize the population with these signals and their meaning.
The detailed process:
12:00 p.m. Activation of the “SIREN TEST” signal (15 seconds)
at state level by the state warning centers
12:15 p.m. Activation of the “WARNING” signal (3 minutes of continuous tone)
nationwide by the Federal Warning Center in the BMI Situation Center
12:30 p.m. Activation of the “ALARM” signal (1 minute of rising and falling siren tone)
at state level by the state warning centers
12:45 p.m. Activation of the “ALL-CLEAR” signal (1 minute of continuous tone)
at state level by the state warning centers
The meaning of the signals:
Siren test: 15 seconds
Warning: 3 minutes of constant continuous tone – approaching danger!
→ Switch on the radio, TV or Internet, observe the behavioral measures.
Alarm: 1 minute of rising and falling siren tone – danger!
→ Go to protected areas or rooms, follow the behavioral measures announced on the radio, television or the Internet.
All clear: 1 minute of constant continuous tone - danger over!
→ Follow further instructions on the radio, television or the Internet.
The test alarm takes place every year across Austria on the first Saturday in October.
Protecting people is the primary goal of civil protection. With civil protection, the state wants to help its citizens to deal with disasters and emergency situations as best as possible. But people must also be prepared to do something themselves. And that is why once a year - on the first Saturday in October - the so-called "Civil Protection Day" is celebrated in Austria. This year it is October 5th. And this year too, this special theme day is not only intended to remind Austrians of the civil protection signals, but also to help them be prepared for an emergency.
It is not only since the chemical disasters in Seveso and Bhopal and the reactor accidents in Chernobyl and Fukushima that we have known that it is not only natural disasters that can cause great damage. And the Chernobyl disaster in particular has shown that disasters can also affect countries far away. The citizens of Austria are therefore rightly demanding preventive measures to deal with emergency situations. And they would not understand if civil protection were limited to the case of a military conflict, which cannot be completely ruled out. And because the probability of being affected by everyday accidents, natural disasters and technical disasters is increasing in our technological society, "self-protection" is becoming more and more important in our everyday lives.
But what does "self-protection" mean?
This term roughly refers to bridging the time period between the occurrence of an emergency situation and the arrival and effectiveness of organized help. In "official German" it refers to personal behavior in emergency situations from outside, the individual's ability to help themselves, to prepare for crises, disasters, accidents or the event of a defense. If the term "self-protection" is used in connection with self-defense, it stands for various options for defense, in particular to prevent harm to life and limb and to property. This meaning will not be discussed here. However, what sounds complicated in connection with "self-protection" is actually not that bad: Generally speaking, it is simply about not being immediately dependent on outside help in the event of a crisis!
Basically, it should be noted that the will to protect yourself alone is not enough. Only those who also acquire the necessary knowledge and make the appropriate material provisions will be able to actively pursue self-protection. In the case of large-scale disasters, it can take up to several days for help to reach the most remote villages. The Austrian Civil Protection Association recommends the following in terms of precautions:
· Build up food reserves for at least two weeks, not just with the usual staple foods or canned food, but also long-term food that lasts up to 25 years (available from camping or outdoor retailers)
· Make provisions for clean drinking water (in case pipes burst or an evacuation is carried out), for example by using appropriate chemical tablets or filters, which are also available from camping or outdoor retailers
· Make provisions for a power outage by using camping stoves and battery-operated information devices.
· Prepare emergency equipment, for example a backpack filled with first aid supplies, a radio with a crank, copies of documents, food for at least two days, a lighter, outdoor clothing, means of transport such as an inflatable boat, a lightweight tent and more – as a precaution if the house or apartment has to be evacuated in the event of a flood, chemical accident or house fire.
· In long-term emergencies, households that grow their own vegetables and potatoes have an advantage
Detailed information, such as what a “crisis-proof household” can look like and what and how much food and water is needed for it, can be found on the homepage of the Lower Austrian Civil Protection Association, www.noezsv.at.
Here is some more information about the AT-Alert system:
As part of the siren test, a nationwide test activation of the disaster warning system "AT-Alert" will also take place on mobile phones. It is not necessary to install your own app.
"AT-Alert" is based on the mobile phone technology "Cell Broadcast" and, due to the way it works, guarantees complete anonymity. Personal data (such as name, telephone number, mobile phone operator) is not requested or used. Since receiving a message via "Cell Broadcast" works in a similar way to receiving broadcasts via radio, there is no feedback. The triggering body has neither information about the mobile phones reached nor the personal data of the mobile phone users.
Testing procedure:
A text message will appear on your mobile phone with "Attention test - Austria-wide test activation of civil protection signals via sirens and test activation of AT-Alert".
A loud acoustic signal will also sound from your mobile phone. At the highest alarm level, this signal cannot be muted.
When will I receive a message in real operation?
You will receive a message via “AT-Alert” if you are in an affected area or are going to one and the corresponding warning level is switched on on your mobile phone.
On your mobile phone, you can call up the corresponding menu under Settings (Android: “Safety and Emergency”; Apple/iPhone: “Notifications”). There you will find the warning signals and the option to mute corresponding notifications, with the exception of the “Emergency Alarm”.
When is “AT-Alert” used?
A message can be sent for any event if the responsible authority considers this appropriate in light of impending or spreading major emergencies or disasters. Examples of possible triggering cases are:
(Life-) threatening natural hazards (severe storms such as storms, extreme heavy rain, extreme risk of flooding, extreme snowfall, very high risk of avalanches, extreme risk of forest fires, ...)
(Life-) threatening technical hazards (accidents involving radiological, biological and chemical substances, such as gas leaks, chemical leaks, risk of explosion, but also risk from smoke gases, ...)
(Life-) threatening police situations
Warning signals in real operation:
"AT-Alert" has different warning levels, depending on the mobile phone:
Emergency alarm
Extreme danger
Significant danger
Hazard information
Missing persons
Test warning
Practice warning
The highest warning level, "emergency alarm", cannot be muted.
Messages about "AT-Alert" are sent out via the nine state warning centers and the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
Download At_Alarm_Infobroschuere.pdf (1.54 MB)
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