sirens and phones alert millions today

On March 13, 2025, the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Bavaria, and North Rhine-Westphalia conduct another round of test alarms, activating sirens, mobile phones, and other communication channels to simulate emergency scenarios. The timings vary across the states: Rhineland-Palatinate began at 10:00 a.m., Hesse followed at 10:15 a.m., while Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia triggered their alerts at 11:00 a.m. These regional tests, which complement the nationwide alert day held in autumn, aim to raise public awareness about danger signals and prepare citizens for real emergencies, such as natural disasters, attacks, or other crises. Authorities in Rhineland-Palatinate emphasize that the exercise seeks to impart “knowledge on how to handle alerts” and bolster people’s ability to protect themselves. In North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state with around 18 million residents, the initiative underscores the need to test systems in a densely urbanized and industrialized region. Since the end of the Cold War, Germany has been revitalizing these mechanisms, which include approximately 15,000 still-operational sirens, though many are in poor condition after decades of neglect.

The alert strategy employs multiple channels to maximize reach. Sirens emit piercing tones, smartphones receive notifications via cell broadcast, digital advertising spaces display warnings, and radio and TV stations interrupt broadcasts with messages. Cell broadcast, requiring no specific apps, stands out as a key feature, instantly reaching devices connected to mobile networks. However, previous tests revealed glitches, such as delays or missed alerts on older devices, sparking discussions about the system’s reliability and the need for modernization.

Today’s exercise also features “all-clear” signals, scheduled about half an hour after the initial alerts, except in cell broadcast, which skips this follow-up message for technical reasons. With millions of residents involved, this regional alert day highlights the critical role of a robust communication infrastructure in a country that faced devastating floods in 2021 in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, claiming over 170 lives.

How test alarms work in practice

Test alarms are designed to mimic real emergencies, using a mix of channels to reach the public. Sirens, a Cold War relic, emit continuous or varying tones to signal specific alerts, such as imminent danger or a call to firefighters. In North Rhine-Westphalia, local authorities provide guides explaining that a siren with a steady tone and two regular breaks signals a firefighter alert, while a one-minute continuous sound marks the end of an emergency.

Cell broadcast, a newer technology, sends automatic messages to all smartphones within a coverage area, provided they are powered on, not in airplane mode, and running modern operating systems like Android 11 or iOS 16.1. During today’s test in Bavaria at 11:00 a.m., many residents reported being startled by the loud tone from their devices, followed by a text clarifying it was a simulation.

Digital spaces, such as billboards at train stations, and interruptions on radio and TV round out the system, though not all perform flawlessly. Past tests, like the national one in 2020, saw reports of delayed phone notifications and TV broadcast failures, pointing to the need for technical refinements to ensure reliability in real scenarios.

Why test alarms matter in Germany

Conducting regional and national test alarms has become a priority in Germany following events like the 2021 floods, which exposed weaknesses in alert systems. That year, in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, inadequate communication contributed to the high death toll, with entire communities evacuated too late. Today’s tests aim to prevent such failures, preparing both citizens and officials to respond swiftly in emergencies.

In Bavaria, with its mix of rural areas and urban centers like Munich, the drills help assess the coverage of the country’s roughly 15,000 active sirens, many of which were decommissioned after reunification in 1990. In Hesse, the focus is on testing the integration of sirens with digital tools, like the NINA app, which supplements cell broadcast with detailed instructions.

These events also serve an educational purpose. In Hesse, officials scheduled the “all-clear” signal for 10:45 a.m., half an hour after the initial alert, to help residents recognize different siren tones and understand how to react, whether by seeking shelter or awaiting official guidance.

Technology and challenges of modern alerts

Germany relies on a blend of traditional and digital systems to reach its population of over 83 million. Cell broadcast, introduced in recent years, is considered the most efficient channel, as it requires no registration or app downloads. During today’s test in Rhineland-Palatinate at 10:00 a.m., active phones emitted a loud sound and displayed automatic messages, catching many off guard.

Yet, the system faces hurdles. Older devices running outdated Android or iOS versions often miss alerts, as seen in tests in 2020 and 2023. In North Rhine-Westphalia, where population density is high, reports of notification delays are common, likely due to network overload during simultaneous broadcasts.

Sirens remain vital, especially in rural parts of Hesse and Bavaria, but many are deteriorating. In 1993, Germany had 80,000 active sirens; today, only 15,000 remain, and some cities, like Berlin, have dismantled their systems entirely since the Cold War ended.

Schedule and details of the alert day

Today’s tests follow a specific timeline across the four states:

• Rhineland-Palatinate: starts at 10:00 a.m., with sirens and cell broadcast.
• Hesse: alert at 10:15 a.m., followed by “all-clear” at 10:45 a.m.
• Bavaria: sirens and notifications at 11:00 a.m.
• North Rhine-Westphalia: activation at 11:00 a.m., covering 18 million residents.

Each state tailors the exercise to its needs. In Rhineland-Palatinate, the focus is on awareness post-2021 floods, while in Bavaria, the emphasis is on testing infrastructure in cities like Munich and rural areas.

Real scenarios behind the alerts

The systems tested today are deployed in actual emergencies, including:

• Civil defense: external threats to national security.
• Natural disasters: floods, wildfires, or tornadoes.
• Daily operations: calls to firefighters or police.
• Terror situations: attacks or threats to the public.

The 2021 floods in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate underscored the need for swift alerts. Over 1,300 people were initially reported missing in Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate, due to collapsed phone networks, highlighting the importance of redundant systems like sirens and cell broadcast.

Public reaction and ongoing learning

Many residents in the four states were startled today, particularly by the phone alerts. In Bavaria, at 11:00 a.m., social media posts described the initial shock, followed by relief upon realizing it was a test. In Hesse, the “all-clear” signal at 10:45 a.m. helped familiarize people with the varying siren tones.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, high population density poses a logistical challenge. Home to about one-fifth of Germany’s population, the state uses these drills to evaluate mobile network capacity and citizen response in urban hubs like Düsseldorf and Cologne.

Regional tests, paired with the national alert day in September, reflect Germany’s ongoing effort to refine its systems. Past failures, like the 2020 network overload, inform adjustments to ensure maximum reach in real emergencies.

Building a safer future

Germany plans to maintain annual test alarms, both nationally and regionally. In Rhineland-Palatinate, authorities have confirmed that these exercises will continue to enhance public resilience. In Hesse, the government stresses that integrating sirens with digital tech is key to covering urban and rural areas alike.

In Bavaria, today’s tests reinforce the need to keep the 15,000 sirens functional, while in North Rhine-Westphalia, population density demands steady investment in communication infrastructure. These efforts echo lessons from the 2021 floods, when over 170 deaths could have been avoided with better alerts.

Today’s experience, with millions of phones ringing and sirens echoing, serves as a reminder that preparing for emergencies is an evolving process, blending tradition and innovation to safeguard Germany’s population.