Alarms blaring from mobile devices resonate across Bremen on National Alert Day, capturing footage and videos.
Mobile Sirens Enhance Emergency Warning Systems in Bremen and Bremerhaven
In a recent development, the cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven have integrated mobile siren systems into their emergency warning infrastructure. These systems, as demonstrated in Bremen, offer several advantages and are designed to quickly attract public attention to imminent dangers such as severe weather, industrial incidents, or other emergencies requiring urgent response.
Dr. Daniel Heinke, head of the public safety department at the Senator for the Interior, stated that mobile sirens are a tool to support fixed sirens and other warning means. The mobile sirens, he explained, produce a loud, penetrating sound that can reach a wide area quickly, alerting people outdoors and those without access to mobile or broadcast communications.
One of the key advantages of mobile sirens is their reliability during power or network outages. Siren systems function independently of telecommunications networks, ensuring they remain operational even during outages that might disrupt phone or internet-based alerts.
The mobile sirens, equipped with a spherical loudspeaker system mounted on the roof, can reach over 120 decibels and can even alert those on the upper floors of buildings. During the nationwide warning exercise on September 12, these mobile sirens were used for the first time, with one of them presented to the media in front of the ÖVB Arena.
In Bremen, thirty-eight out of forty-three fixed siren installations are currently in place, and six mobile sirens have been recently added to the warning systems. Three mobile warning systems have been acquired for the city of Bremen, two for the city of Bremerhaven, and one more for the state of Bremen.
The device for making announcements and triggering siren signals in the mobile sirens is portable and can be operated via the cigarette lighter. Three hearing protectors are included in the equipment of the mobile sirens, ensuring the safety of those operating them.
When the wailing warning tone, formerly known as an air raid alarm, is sounded, the population is advised to listen up and inform themselves via radio, the warning app, or social media about what's happening. The all-clear tone sounded 45 minutes after the wailing warning tone during the nationwide warning exercise.
The price per mobile siren is approximately 4,600 euros. These mobile sirens, as part of a layered, reliable public warning infrastructure, provide a visual and audible alert over a broad area, while mobile alerts can give tailored information and instructions.
While trends elsewhere, such as in the US, show a shift toward mobile phone alerting systems like Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), communities like Bremen and Bremerhaven maintain sirens as vital, attention-grabbing backups to reach those outdoors or without cell phones.
[1] Mobile Sirens: A Comprehensive Approach to Emergency Warning Systems [2] Bremen Integrates Mobile Sirens into Emergency Warning Systems [3] Mobile Sirens: A Practical Solution for Emergency Warning Systems [4] Bremen's Mobile Sirens: Ensuring Comprehensive Emergency Warning Coverage [5] Mobile Sirens: A Key Component of Modern Emergency Warning Systems
- Incorporating technology like mobile sirens into emergency warning systems, as seen in Bremen, offers a practical solution to reach individuals outdoors and those without mobile devices during emergencies.
- The addition of gadgets such as mobile sirens to emergency warning systems in cities like Bremen and Bremerhaven enhances their ability to deliver powerful, audible alerts, even during power or network outages.
