In two federal states – you need to know this about the warning day – so prepare yourself now

On March 9, 2023 at 11 a.m., Germany is rehearsing the start of a disaster. However, only in Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia. Warnings should then go out via all possible channels. Mobile phones are also to be involved for the first time. The test messages are intended to show whether the civil protection works.

For the millions of recipients of the warning day, “there is no danger,” the statement said.

Today is warning day: This is how the disaster works

The test messages for the warning day are triggered centrally by the federal government at 11 a.m. – However, only in Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphaliato check the functionality of the information channels that can be controlled in Germany. The all-clear is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. On the previous warning day on December 8, 2022, many cell phone owners did not receive the warning message.

Test alerts are broadcast over metropolitan areas via radio and television, cellular networks, sirens, loudspeakers and digital scoreboards.

Test warnings appear on the cell phone if owners have installed the warning apps Nina, BIWApp and Katwarn. The best warning apps are here.

The mobile phone providers Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica O2 also want to send a corresponding test message via SMS at 11 a.m.

The test alert appears on the home screen of the mobile device and comes with an alert tone that you will hear even if your phone is on silent.

Those affected should be able to read the test message even when the device is on the lock screen. On Android devices, “DE-Alert” is then displayed and a red warning sign is displayed over the message. iPhone devices will then say “Emergency Alert” next to a yellow warning sign.

The message may say “Trial registration nationwide. There is no danger.”

Warning Day – Is Cell Broadcast active on your smartphone?

Does the warning SMS arrive on all cell phones?

Yes and no.

Not all cell phones can receive the warning messages. Devices that no longer receive official updates from Google or Apple are excluded. You can check today if your phone is compatible by checking for updates in Settings. If it says that your smartphone is no longer served with updates, you will probably not receive any notifications on the warning day.

Basically: Alerts are automatically active on iPhone devices with at least iOS 16.3.1 installed. Android smartphones with operating system version 11 or higher are fit for the test warning. You can find out the operating system under “Settings”, then “General” and then “About” for Apple devices and under “Settings”, then “About smartphone” and then “Android version”.

How do I prepare for the warning day?

Your mobile phone must be switched on. Also, you cannot receive warning messages if you have Airplane mode enabled.

The colleagues at “CHIP”-Online will explain how the warning SMS works

Are there also warnings about sirens?

Yes. And this is exactly where glitches could occur again.

Originally, for example, the installation of 400 new warning sirens was planned in Berlin. After the experiences of the warning day in September 2020, the federal government decided to launch a funding program to strengthen the siren network and transferred millions to the states for this purpose. By August, just over 20 sirens were installed on buildings.

There aren’t sirens everywhere in Germany.

In many places they were dismantled after the end of the Cold War because people believed they were no longer needed. There has since been a rethink. Sirens won’t be blaring everywhere as coverage is patchy.

The fire brigade, public order office and police also use loudspeaker vans to reach as many residents as possible.

How do I even notice the warning day?

In addition to mobile phones, loudspeakers and sirens, there are also the following information channels that provide information about a crisis in an emergency.

TV and radio stations will pause their programming for a test warning. This is also important because in the event of a crisis, citizens are looking for specific information so that they know how to get to safety.

Information boards in the cities, such as those found in many places in Berlin, point out demonstrations or traffic jams in everyday life and warn people to be more considerate of cyclists. In the event of a disaster or a test alarm, a warning should be displayed on the light panels.

Why is the warning day so important?

The disaster in the Ahr Valley in July 2021 clearly showed the weaknesses in German civil protection. Many of those affected were not warned in time. 180 people died in the flood disaster. At the time, the federal government declared that it wanted to make adjustments to civil protection.

First warning day had flopped

A lot went wrong on the first nationwide warning day on September 10, 2020. Among other things, the message from the warning apps Nina and Katwarn only arrived on the smartphones a good half hour late.

If it had actually been an emergency, many citizens would not have noticed.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior had described the then warning day fiasco as “failed”.

A warning day originally planned for September 2021 was canceled again. The reason given at the time was that the BBK first wanted to “build a comprehensive test landscape”. On the warning day on December 8th, the BKK was satisfied. The authority praised itself in the highest tones. “The trial warning showed that our technical infrastructure is robust and that the technical problems of the past have been resolved,” Ralph Tiesler, President of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), said sheepishly at the time.

But many people were not even reached in Germany. For example, numerous users complained that they had not received a warning on their mobile phones. Telekom customers in particular waited in vain for the warning message.

Warning message function good, but needs improvement

The BBK tries to limit the damage, especially on social media.