USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs Office
The first test of Germany’s nationwide emergency alert system will take place on Thursday, September 10, at 11 a.m.
Sirens and other warning devices will sound throughout the country for approximately one minute, while announcements may also be made from loudspeaker trucks in city streets.
The goal of this exercise is to familiarize citizens with the emergency alert system used by German federal and local authorities to notify the public during major incidents such as natural disasters, bomb disposals, and other security incidents, according to the U.S. Embassy in Berlin.
This year’s test marks the first of what is scheduled to be an annual event held in the second week of September and is a coordinated effort between the federal and state governments.