Siren test in Lower Austria: 99.76 % of the systems work perfectly

Siren test in Lower Austria: 99.76 % of the systems work perfectly

On the first Saturday in October, not only the time will be changed in Lower Austria, but also the sirens are tested. Today, October 5, the sirens howled at 12 noon to remind the population of the functionality of civil protection alarms.

In this special exercise, which took place between 11:45 and 12:30 p.m., a total of 2,450 sirens in the state were checked for their functionality. There were only six malfunctions, which results in an impressive quota of 99.76 % fully functional sirens. This is particularly important against the background of the impending dangers from natural disasters.

The new alarm at-Alert

In addition, the new "At-Alert" alarm system was tested for smartphones for the first time. Punctually at 11:55 a.m., users who set their devices accordingly received a corresponding warning message. This system is operated by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and served to quickly inform the population about emergency measures.

The test signals have been carried out several times. In addition to the 15-second alarm at 12:00 p.m., a three-minute long-range tone followed as an indication of a threatening danger situation and a one-minute up and down howling tone, which signals that there is acute danger.

The siren sample also has an important role in the training of the population: it sensitizes citizens: inside for the different siren signals and their importance in an emergency. "The right reaction can save lives," explains Christoph Kainz, President of the Lower Austrian Civil Protection Association.

With the positive results in the siren tests and the introduction of the new alarm system, Lower Austrian state government has grown to the challenges of future dangers. Governor Deputy Stephan Pernkopf emphasized that security is a top priority and that the warning system is available in an emergency. Further Details on the latest developments in emergency communication can be found in a detailed report on www.meinbezirk.at .

The annual siren and alarm training is of great importance for preparations for natural disasters such as floods, storms or fires and contributes to general security in the region. The experiences gained and the functionality of the systems create confidence in the authority's emergency precautions.