The date has been set for Germany’s next official warning day (Warntag), and officials have warned residents and citizens that the alert sirens will be very loud.

Date announced for Germany’s 2023 warning day

The Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance have announced that the date and time have been set for Germany’s next warning day. To avoid an unpleasant surprise, people in the federal republic should brace themselves for September 14, 2023. 

At 11am on September 14, sirens will be sounded and people will receive warning alerts via cell broadcast and Germany’s warning apps, such as NINA. Alerts will also be broadcast on the radio and television and displayed on information boards in public spaces and on public transport. Head of the Civil Protection Office Ralph Tiesler has warned that “it will be loud”. 

People in Germany have been told that they don’t need to do anything when the alerts sound on September 14, but it’s good to know what’s going to happen so nobody feels alarmed, and so you know what to do in the case of a real-life emergency. If you hear the siren in a non-test scenario, you are advised to inform yourself of the situation via radio, TV, social media or a warning app and follow the recommendations.

Hopes for a more successful Warntag in Germany

In recent years, Germany has put more energy into making sure that nationwide alerts are effective, on time and reach as many people as possible.

The country had its first official Warntag back in September 2020, but since the 2021 floods across North Rhine-Westphalia, when many people did not receive warnings or received them too late, the government is doing more to make sure the warnings are as extensive as possible.

The uncertainty caused by the outbreak of war in Europe, the energy crisis, summer flooding and extreme heat have pushed authorities to trial new warning methods more regularly.

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