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Most of you will know what I’m talking about when I mention those unbelievably loud (and slightly terrifying) sirens that go off every now and again. After almost 5 years of living here, I have finally come to learn just to ignore the alarm and carry on with my daily activities – whether indoor or outdoor.

On the odd occasion, I remind myself that my response to these alarms is completely false, and I should be taking better measures to ensure that I,

A. Recognize the tones of each siren and what they mean
B. Know when the next siren test will occur
C. Know what to do in case of an actual emergency

In order to better prepare me, and you, I’ve done some research and put together some more information below so that you and your family are also well prepared when the next alarm goes off.

Featured Photo Credit: Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf

How do I know whether it’s a test or an emergency?

You’ll have to do your best to keep yourself updated via radio, internet, or telephone. If you are listening to the radio, you’ll find local news updates on Antenne Düsseldorf (UKW 104,2) and WDR2 (UKW 99,2). If you are online, you can visit the Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf or the Düsseldorf Firefighters Facebook page. Alternatively, you can also save this phone number which will inform you about any dangers that may be present in Düsseldorf: 0211 3 889 889.

I personally prefer having the Warning app NINA easily accessible on my phone so that I can receive instant updates in case of any emergencies, this includes weather warnings, high water warnings, and civil protection warnings. The app was created by the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance to make it easier for citizens of Germany to stay informed.

FYI – You need to subscribe to each city that you’d like to be informed about, which means you won’t always be getting warnings for the entire country.

What do the sirens mean?

There are a few different siren pitches/tones if you’ve noticed during a test before.

The Fire Alarm

The fire alarm is to warn the local fire departments of any emergencies. The alarm is a continuous tone that lasts 1 minute and will break two times (—- —- —-). You can ignore this alarm as it is only intended for the fire department.

To listen to a recording of this alarm, click here.

The Warning Alarm

This is the alarm that you should know off by heart. The warning alarm is for any natural or unnatural disaster that may cause harm to civilians. The alarm is a continuous tone that lasts 1 minute. The alarm does not break but runs in waves up and down.

To listen to a recording of this alarm, click here.

The “All Clear” Alarm

The “All Clear” alarm lets civilians know that there is no longer any danger and everything is safe. The alarm is a continuous tone that lasts 1 minute, does not fluctuate in volume, and does not break (————).

To listen to a recording of this alarm, click here.

What to do in case of a real Warning alarm?

The city of Düsseldorf advises everyone to remain calm, enter the closest building to you, close all windows and doors, and turn on the radio (WDR 2 or Antenne Düsseldorf). If there are others around you, make sure you inform them of what to do and make sure that you only call 110 or 112 in case of an emergency. Remain indoors until you hear the “All Clear” alarm and stay updated via telephone, internet, or radio at all times.

If you are ever in a real state of emergency and need to go to the hospital, call 112 right away or head straight to your nearest hospital.

Where are the sirens located?

Depending on where you live may depend on how loud the alarm is, for me, the alarm is located exactly 2 houses down which means when the alarm does go off, I need to stop everything I’m doing and throw on my noise-canceling headphones. Hopefully, you have better luck and live in perfect distance to an alarm that you’ll be able to hear it in case of an emergency without having to find ear protection.

There are more than 80 different alarms in the city of Düsseldorf alone. You can access the list of locations and addresses on the Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf website.

For any additional information, you can refer to the Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf website.