Soon to be tested: Everyone will receive siren warnings on their phones

You may be familiar with the annual siren test that takes place on the first Wednesday of May.

Here, the Danish Emergency Management Agency and the National Police test the alert signal which outside of test situations is reserved for emergencies of life-threatening nature that affect a larger number of people.

This year, however, there will be a special addition to the physical siren across the country.

In a few months, you will also receive warnings directly on your mobile phone – and it will be tested alongside the other sirens.

The Danish Emergency Management Agency announced this in a press release.

You don’t need an app or to sign up

Fortunately, Denmark is rarely affected by major accidents and disasters.

But when there is an acute danger in a specific area – such as a fire, accident or other – the authorities warn the population.

Today, this happens through emergency messages and physical warning sirens, but from April, you will also receive warnings via S!RENEN directly on your mobile phone.

S!RENEN is a mobile-based warning system that the authorities can use to warn in a specific geographic area where a crisis has arisen and people are in danger.

When an alert is issued, S!RENEN emits a loud sound. On the screen of your phone, you can read what is happening and what you should do.

What you should do when you receive a warning is: STOP. READ. REACT.

“Denmark is a safe and secure society, but there may still be situations where human life is at risk.

Here, the new warning system S!RENEN can alert you and tell you what to do. It is a really good supplement to emergency messages and physical warning sirens,” the acting Minister of Defense, Troels Lund Poulsen, says.

The warnings are sent via the cell towers to all newer mobile devices – Danish and foreign – that are within the danger area. You do not need to sign up or use a special app to receive the warnings.

S!RENEN uses cell broadcast technology, which allows authorities to issue warnings without receiving information about which phones have been in the area.

The system will be fully operational from April, and before that, it is planned that S!RENEN will be tested nationally in connection with the annual test of the physical warning sirens.

So, don’t be too scared if your phone starts ringing and beeping on May 3rd at 12.00.

You can read more about S!RENEN here.