Siren signals in the Czech Republic
Siren signals in the Czech Republic
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There are currently more than 10 000 warning sirens in operation in the Czech Republic as part of the so-called "unified warning and notification system". Approximately more than a half of these devices are mechanical sirens, the rest being electronic sirens and PA warning systems. These sirens are activated in the event of an emergency, when human lives are at risk or property damage is imminent, and they serve as the primary means of providing a rapid warning to the population. Thanks to their reliability and advances in technology, they remain a very important component of the warning system in the 21st century and can still warn a substantial part of the population very effectively.
Sirens can sound three acoustic signals, only one of which is a warning signal. This signal is of concern to the general public and so it is important that everyone is aware of it.
Siren Test
Siren Test
("Zkouška sirén")
Signal used to verify the operability of the warning system. This signal is the most frequently encountered. The sirens are tested on the first Wednesday of every month at 12 o'clock. This applies, with exceptions. In the Olomouc Region, for example, the sirens sound 10 minutes later. It is a steady, uninterrupted tone sounding for 140 seconds.
Where electronic sirens are used, the test may be announced up to 20 minutes before the its commencement. This is done using the following verbal information:
🕦
"Zkouška sirén, zkouška sirén, zkouška sirén. Za několik minut proběhne zkouška sirén. Zkouška sirén, zkouška sirén, zkouška sirén."
Besides Czech, the siren test announcement can be delivered in English, German and in Russian as well:
"Test of sirens, test of sirens, test of sirens. Test of sirens will continue within several minutes. Test of sirens, test of sirens, test of sirens."
"Sirenenprobealarm, Sirenenprobealarm, Sirenenprobealarm. Der Probealarm erfolgt in einigen Minuten. Sirenenprobealarm, Sirenenprobealarm, Sirenenprobealarm."
"Внимание внимание, сейчас будет проведена проверка системы оповещения включением сирены."
A verbal announcement of the test will also be made at the end of the test signal in case of electronic sirens.
✅
"Zkouška sirén, zkouška sirén, zkouška sirén. Právě proběhla zkouška sirén. Zkouška sirén, zkouška sirén, zkouška sirén."
The public doesn't need to pay special attention to the "siren test" signal. However, feedback from citizens is always appreciated if it is apparent that there has been a failure of the system's critical components, i.e. the sirens near their homes.
Notice! Siren test signal never indicates an emergency, even if the sirens sound this signal at any time other than the warning system's test date. The Government of the Czech Republic may authorise the activation of this signal, for example, during commemorative events.
Fire Alarm
Fire Alarm
("Požární poplach")
It is the second non-emergency signal used to convene volunteer fire service units. For firefighters, the signal is an instruction to immediately report to the fire station for an emergency response. A fire alarm can be sounded at any time of the day or night.
The public is not directly to be concerned by this signal, but it is advisable to be vigilant in road traffic when it is announced, as the "integrated rescue system" vehicles are departing their stations, and have the right of a way.
This signal has two variants. In the case of mechanical sirens, the siren sounds a steady tone that is interrupted for ten seconds and lasts for a total of one minute. In the case of electronic (talking) sirens, it is a repeated intermittent alternation of two tones, imitating the honking of the Hi-Lo (Lo-Hi) signal, which lasts for one minute.
In the case of electronic sirens, this signal is followed by accompanying verbal information:
🔥
"Požární poplach, požární poplach, požární poplach. Svolání hasičů, svolání hasičů. Byl vyhlášen požární poplach. Požární poplach."
General Warning
General Warning
("Všeobecná výstraha")
It is the only warning signal in the Czech Republic since 2001. The signal sounds in case of any imminent or already existing danger. Nowadays, it can be heard mainly in the event of natural disasters, accidents with leakage of dangerous substances, terrorist attacks, violent acts, floods, but also in the event of dangerous meteorological phenomena.
The signal has the form of a fluctuating tone that sounds for 140 seconds. This signal can be repeated up to three times in a row to ensure that there are as many residents warned as possible. The signal can sound at any time during day or night. In the case of electronic sirens, the signal is accompanied by short verbal information that informs about the nature of the danger.
There are four baseline verbal announcements that can be heard after the sounding of a warning signal. The first three specify the types of emergency. They are chosen to correspond to the hazards most likely to be faced in the Czech Republic:
⚗️
"Chemická havárie, chemická havárie, chemická havárie. Ohrožení únikem škodlivin. Sledujte vysílání českého rozhlasu, televize a regionálních rozhlasů. Chemická havárie, chemická havárie, chemická havárie." (chemical accident)
☢️
"Radiační havárie, radiační havárie, radiační havárie. Ohrožení únikem radioaktivních látek. Sledujte vysílání českého rozhlasu, televize a regionálních rozhlasů. Radiační havárie, radiační havárie, radiační havárie." (radiation accident)
🌊
"Nebezpečí zátopové vlny, nebezpečí zátopové vlny. Ohrožení zátopovou vlnou. Sledujte vysílání českého rozhlasu, televize a regionálních rozhlasů. Nebezpečí zátopové vlny, nebezpečí zátopové vlny." (flood wave)
If it is not the aforementioned types of danger, then general verbal warning information will be used:
⚠️
"Všeobecná výstraha, všobecná výstraha, všobecná výstraha. Sledujte vysílání českého rozhlasu, televize a regionálních rozhlasů. Všeobecná výstraha, všobecná výstraha, všobecná výstraha." (general warning)
Once the emergency is declared over, the electronic sirens broadcast the verbal announcement of all-clear. In the case of mechanical sirens, the general warning signal is sounded again.
📢
"Konec poplachu, konec poplachu, konec poplachu. Sledujte vysílání českého rozhlasu, televize a regionálních rozhlasů. Konec poplachu, konec poplachu, konec poplachu." (all-clear)
Upon hearing the warning signal, citizens should:
🏢 Remain calm and take shelter in the nearest brick building, if possible (It is recommended to take shelter on the upper floors of the building)
🪟 Prevent all air from entering the building (Close windows, doors, turn off ventilation, seal openings).
📺 Turn on TV and radio (Tune in to CT - Czech Television, CRo - Czech Radio, regional radio.) - Public media are obliged to inform about the danger in case of an emergency
📵 Do not make unnecessary phone calls, especially do not flood the emergency lines, these services will be probably informed by the time the siren sounds and will be busy handling other calls.
🗣️ Inform neighbours and help others, especially the elderly, ill and disabled persons
👨🚒Follow the instructions of the emergency services
The first two mentioned principles, i.e. take shelter and prevent air access, refer to the possibility that hazardous substances may have, or have already been, released into the environment. Contact with these substances must be avoided and at the same time contamination of the shelter must be prevented. The likelihood of sirens sounding due to an accident with hazardous substances is high, so these principles must be applied even when it is not entirely certain why the warning system was triggered. It is therefore important not to underestimate these principles.
Siren Test
Fire Alarm
General Warning
Fire Alarm (Electronic siren - Hi-Lo)
Video Summary of Siren Signals (with audio)
Summary of Verbal announcements
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