September 11, 2025 marked as the National Warning Day, serving as a rehearsal for emergency procedures
On September 11, 2025, Schleswig-Holstein will join the nationwide Civil Defense Drill. This exercise is designed to test and strengthen the German warning system, providing valuable insights for further development.
The drill will utilize a variety of channels to broadcast the warning, including television, radio, warning apps, cell broadcast, and information boards in cities. Residents are encouraged to pay attention to announcements from their municipalities about which warning means are being tested.
Sabine Sütterlin-Waack, the current Minister of the Interior in Schleswig-Holstein, emphasizes the importance of this event. She encourages citizens to engage more with warning systems and self-protection topics.
To help test one's crisis resilience, Sütterlin-Waack suggests using the Civil Defense Drill as a fixed date for a personal self-sufficiency check. Five key questions can aid in this assessment:
- Do I receive all relevant warnings?
- Do I know what to do next in case of a warning?
- Do I have supplies for at least three days?
- Do I have important papers ready?
- Do I know the location of the nearest emergency information point?
The new risk communication portal for Schleswig-Holstein can be found at www.schleswig-holstein.de/civil-defense. This portal provides citizens with checklists for personal preparedness.
In addition, Sütterlin-Waack recommends that every household switch to DAB+ in good time. Schleswig-Holstein plans to introduce DAB+ nationwide by 2031. DAB+ receivers in standby mode automatically turn on when a warning is issued in the relevant region.
Under Cell Broadcast - BBK, citizens can find instructions on how to check if their phone is capable of receiving cell broadcast. For official tips on all imaginable emergencies, information about the warning app can be found at www.bbk.bund.de/nina.
Following the drill, authorities are asking citizens to participate in a nationwide survey on the internet at http://www.warntag-umfrage.de/. Your participation is crucial in making the warning system more robust and effective.
Stay informed, stay prepared, and remember, on September 11, 2025, the all-clear is scheduled for around 11:45 AM.
