Whether it's floods, forest fires or terrorist attacks - the population must be informed quickly and reliably in dangerous situations. In Bavaria, too, sirens, warning apps and display boards will be put to the test on Thursday.
Munich (dpa / lby) - Before the nationwide warning day this Thursday, the Free State sees itself well positioned to alert the population in dangerous situations. "Bavaria relies on a wide mix of warning devices when warning the population," the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior told the German Press Agency. New technologies such as automated warning messages via digital radio DAB and cell broadcast complement existing options. With Cell Broadcast, an alert is sent to all cell phones with reception in a specific area - no app or internet connection is required.
According to the ministry, the warning options already used include sirens, apps and radio announcements. The aim is to reach even more people and to be able to warn of dangers at an early stage, said the spokesman.
After a test alarm two years ago, which the Federal Ministry of the Interior declared "failed", the warning systems in Germany are to be tested again on Thursday. At 11:00 a.m., the population should receive a test warning via various channels. An all-clear should be given at 11:45 a.m.
The systems were last tested in Bavaria in May of this year. "The Bavaria-wide test alarm takes place regularly in order to be able to test the functioning of the technology and the processes under real conditions," said a spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior. In this way, weak points can be identified and quickly remedied. The last test alarm was therefore without incident.
In Munich, for example, the new warning methods also include messages on the digital display boards at underground and S-Bahn stations and on the street, as the Munich fire brigade announced. "Communication is extremely important in crises. It has to be quick and clear and reach as many people as possible in the city. The warning messages on the display boards are a first step in this direction," said district administration officer Hanna Sammüller-Gradl.
According to the Bavarian State Institute for New Media (BLM), a warning should also be issued via digital radio DAB in parts of Middle Franconia and Upper Bavaria. Since it usually works even in the event of a disaster, the classic linear radio plays an important role in the warning system, said Thorsten Schmiege, President of the BLM. "Thanks to DAB with its robust infrastructure, there is now a very good new way to reliably warn."
In order to meet the needs of the Bavarian communities for the expansion and replacement of sirens, the federal program needs further funding according to the assessment of the Bavarian State Fire Brigade Association. "In our view, the municipalities cannot and will not be able to fully implement this without an increase in federal funds," said a spokeswoman. The expansion of the warning systems also depends on the capacities of the specialist companies and the supply of spare parts.
