Major siren test on Saturday

At 12 noon and again at 12.10 pm on Saturday, the sirens will be tested throughout Jena. A wailing tone will sound for twelve seconds each time. During the first round, the regional control center will trigger the test alarm via analog radio. It is planned that 26 sirens will then sound. The sirens at Ringwiese, in Wöllnitz Unterdorf and at the Wenigenjena community school in Jenzigweg are excluded because they are not equipped with analog radios.
In the second round, only the 22 electronic sirens are triggered via a second control path using directional radio. This path serves as a reserve in case the first variant should fail. The motor sirens in Kunitz, Krippendorf, Münchenroda, Leutra, Lichtenhain am Herrenberge and in Jena-Nord in Closewitzer Straße then remain silent. The electronic sirens will then make the following announcement: "Attention! Attention! This is the city administration of Jena. This is a test alarm." After the two test runs, the respective locations are checked to see whether the signal and the announcement have sounded as planned.
The city of Jena currently has a total of 28 sirens. Two more will be added this year. At the moment, the sirens can safely reach almost 60,000 residents of Jena based on the figures from the register of notifications. Jena's siren network is set to grow to 40 sirens in the coming years in order to reach almost all citizens.

Background information:

A nationwide system has been in place in Thuringia since 2018 to warn the population of imminent danger. The so-called Modular Warning System (MoWaS for short) is operated throughout Germany by the federal states in cooperation with the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) in Bonn. Experience in recent years has shown, both nationally and internationally, that radio is a suitable means of warning and information in the event of major natural and technical disasters, but that it is also necessary to use acoustic warning signals such as sirens to "wake up" the population.

What should you do in an emergency when the sirens sound?

• Switch on radios (regional stations) and listen to announcements.
• Pay attention to warnings and information in warning apps for smartphones (e.g. NINA).
• Inform neighbors and passers-by who may not have heard the announcements.
• Help elderly or disabled people and inform foreign citizens.
• Follow the instructions of the authorities.
• Only call 112 (fire department) or 110 (police) in an emergency.
• Keep calm. Enter buildings/apartments. Close doors and windows.
• Stay away from the damaged area if you are not directly affected so that the way remains clear for rapid assistance.