The city's professional fire department will test the functionality of its 56 sirens. The aim is also to remind citizens of the significance of the signals.
During the test alarm, an uninterrupted wail sounds for one minute, which stands for "all clear" in the event of an emergency. After a five-minute break, a one-minute rising and falling wail tests the signal for "warning," which indicates a hazardous situation in a real emergency. Finally, after another pause, the steady tone for "all clear" sounds again. At this site you can listen to the signals.
The Cell Broadcast System and the warning app "NINA" (emergency information and messaging app of the federal government) are also included in the test. Both are being tested centrally by the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) during this trial alert. Both systems enable fire and rescue control centers to alert users of cell phones in the event of major fires, accidents involving hazardous substances or similar accidents. Those who have installed "NINA" receive the trial warning message for the set location or the current location directly on their smartphone. With the Cell Broadcast System, all users in an area where a warning has been issued are informed of the danger by SMS.
During the test alert, the City of Bonn provides information via a so-called pop-up message on the municipal homepage www.bonn.de (opens in a new tab), which would also be used for information purposes in the event of an emergency. In addition, the fire department is testing the direct announcement option in the Radio Bonn/Rhein-Sieg program. This means that the radio program is interrupted to broadcast information announcements from the fire department.
What to do when the "warning" signal sounds in the event of an emergency
Once the siren signal sounds in an emergency, people should seek closed rooms and close windows and doors. In addition, pay attention to loudspeaker announcements by the police and fire department, to announcements on the radio station Radio Bonn/Rhein-Sieg and to the notices on cell phones. If necessary, it is also useful to inform your neighbors.
Establishment of the nationwide warning day
In Bonn, the warning sirens have so far been tested twice a year on Saturdays. The warning decree of the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of the Interior stipulates the half-yearly testing of the warning sirens. With the nationwide warning day, which takes place every fall, the concept has been extended to the entire federal territory. The aim is to sensitize the population to the subject area and to provide citizens with information and tips so that they may react correctly and help themselves in the event of an emergency.
Further information on the nationwide warning day is available at www.bbk.bund.de/bundesweiter-warntag (opens in a new tab).