The date for the warning day 2023 has been set. This is a joint federal-state project to integrate an efficient alarm system. That’s coming our way on September 14, 2023.
On September 10, 2020, the first nationwide warning day took place in Germany. The reason: Since then, all so-called warning devices for emergencies should be tested regularly across countries. In view of recent disasters such as the 2021 flood in the south-west of the country, this makes perfect sense. So far, however, there has been a lack of implementation. After a reasonably smooth process last year, it’s now time for a new one with the warning day 2023.
Warning Day 2023 takes place on September 14th
The date for the next warning day has been set. Accordingly, the warning system in Germany is to be tested again on September 14th. The purpose is to issue organized warning messages on all available channels in order to prepare for an emergency. So the sirens will wail at the same time and a corresponding message will be sent out via SMS and disaster app. A so-called cell broadcast system is used for this. Radio stations then also interrupt their program and issue a corresponding message.
“We have to test new systems in order to be able to use them later,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD). The test usually takes place in September. Last year, however, the warning day had to be postponed to December due to technical problems. In addition to testing the systems themselves, the process is also intended to ensure that everyone living in Germany can get used to it and are prepared for an emergency.
Also interesting: Which apps warn of floods, heavy rain and the like?
How does a warning day work?
At 11 a.m. sharp, all the emergency services and authorities involved activated all available warning devices. These include radio and television stations, scoreboards, sirens and corresponding warning apps. The official warning app of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) is called NINA. At 11.45 a.m., an official all-clear was given as planned.
Since 2021 there has also been the already mentioned so-called cell broadcasting. With the help of this system, a mobile phone message is also to be sent to all citizens who are in the vicinity of a radio mast at the time. In contrast to NINA, for example, not only smartphone users can be reached, but everyone with a mobile phone.
First warning day 2020 was a failure
The first warning day took place in 2020 and in hindsight it was a failure. Among other things, the reports from the warning apps only came half an hour late. In federal states like Berlin, the planned siren alarm also failed because the area was too densely populated for civil defense sirens.
In 2021, the Federal Ministry of the Interior had to cancel the warning day entirely. The reason given by Horst Seehofer (CSU), who was responsible for the project at the time, was that the BBK was still working on a “comprehensive test landscape”. Among other things, this involved the installation of new sirens and the repair of old ones.
The fact that the warning day 2022 now takes place on December 8th and not at the beginning of September, as originally planned, is also due to the system planning. The shift is intended to give the cell broadcasting system even more time. As a reaction to the flood disaster, the warning system is also to be improved and more efficient in general, in order to be optimally prepared in an emergency and to be able to warn as many people as possible at an early stage.