Today at 11 a.m. your smartphone may be making noise. Because a warning arrives on your cell phone via cell broadcast; even if you have it on silent. At the same time, warning sirens (stationary and mobile; around 6,150 sirens in North Rhine-Westphalia) sound and the well-known warning apps such as Katwarn or Nina also sound the alarm on mobile devices. But only in Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia. Because only these two federal states are testing the functionality of their warning systems for disaster and defense events today, March 14, 2024, at 11 a.m., as Bavaria explains here.
In addition, there are warning announcements through public loudspeakers and loudspeaker trucks and corresponding announcements on the radio. The authorities also want to spread warnings on social networks. Where available, public information boards also display the warning. This will be the case on around 1,500 digital display boards in the cities of North Rhine-Westphalia, for example on the city information boards of the Ströer and Wall companies. The warnings even appear on the roof displays of some taxis!
The warning message is transmitted via satellite and also via cable from the Ministry of the Interior or situation center to the connected receivers such as media, warning apps or cell broadcast. In addition, the municipal control centers use their warning devices and, for example, sound the warning sirens.
North Rhine-Westphalia explains the aim of the exercise as follows: “With the test alarm on the nationwide warning day, the state is testing the technology and the interaction of the existing warning devices. The public should also be made aware of the different warnings. Because in an emergency, they are a call to find out more concrete recommendations for action in the media or on the Internet.”
The Free State of Bavaria has published an overview here of how warnings are issued in the respective districts.
