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AUSTRIA EXPLAINED

Austria’s civil defence alarm: What you should know about the warning siren system

Austria will carry out its annual civil defence test alarm on Saturday, October 1st. Here's what you need to know about it.

Published: 27 September 2022 14:42 CEST
Updated: 1 October 2022 09:56 CEST
Austria's civil defence alarm: What you should know about the warning siren system
Civil warning sirens. Austria has a comprehensive system that is tested frequently. (Photo by STAN HONDA / AFP)

It’s going to be loud, but don’t get scared: the alarm sirens will ring all over Austria this weekend as part of the country’s yearly alarm check when it tests the alert system.

Every year, on the first Saturday of October, thousands of sirens sound alarms all over Austria. For those who live outside of Vienna, that may not be particularly eventful, as sirens get tested more often than in the capital city.

READ ALSO: What is Austria’s official emergency-warning phone app and do I need it?

However, the annual country-wide check also means that the federal government will sound all alarms in a 45-minute event to remind the population of the signals of warning and alert.

What happens during the civil protection test alarm?

When sirens are being tested, they ring for 15 seconds only – and this doesn’t happen everywhere in Austria. However, once a year, the tests take on a larger scale.

This Saturday, October 1st, all the sirens will be tested between 12 pm and 12:45 pm. In the Austria-wide event, they will sound alarms on four occasions so people can familiarise themselves with the different signals.

READ ALSO: The smartphone apps that make living in Austria easier

At around noon, the first test will start with a 15-second alarm. Then, at 12:15 pm, the warning signal, followed by the alarm signal at 12:30 pm and the “all clear” sign at 12:45 pm.

Additionally, the governments will test their app systems, including the KAT alert and the Stadt Wien app – so you should receive test notifications if you have any of these apps.

What is the Civil Protection System?

Austria has a comprehensive warning and alarm system with over 8,000 sirens (180 of them are in Vienna) spread throughout the country. It serves to alert the population in the “event of a disaster”, according to the Ministry of the Interior.

The federal government operates the system along with provincial governments. The signals can be triggered centrally by the Federal Warning Centre in the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the Provincial Warning Centres of the Federal Provinces, or the District Warning Centres, depending on the dangerous situation.

READ ALSO: Ten essential apps to download for living in Vienna

Different types of alarms mean different things:

  • TESTING (15 seconds continuous tone): A quick continuous tone to test if sirens are working correctly.
    What to do: don’t panic; this is only a test. You can check ORF on radio, TV or online to confirm this.

  • WARNING (3 minutes continuous tone): A constant continuous tone with a length of 3 minutes means “warning”. This signal is triggered when the population is warned of approaching danger.
    What to do: Switch on radio or TV on public broadcaster ORF, or check www.orf.at and follow the rules of conduct.

  • ALARM (1 minute rising and falling wailing tone): An ascending and descending wailing tone of at least 1-minute duration means “alarm” and alerts that the danger is imminent.
    What to do: Switch on radio or TV on public broadcaster ORF, or check www.orf.at and follow the rules of conduct. Look for protective areas or rooms.

  • ALL CLEAR (1-minute continuous tone): A constant continuous tone of 1 minute (only after the alarm signal) means “all clear”, i.e. end of danger.
    What to do: Continue to pay attention to the announcements on the radio, TV or ORF online, as there may be certain temporary restrictions.

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AUSTRIA EXPLAINED

Why does Austria have two different official flags?

Most countries have one flag but Austria has two.

Published: 6 March 2024 14:29 CET
Why does Austria have two different official flags?

The reason Austria has two flags is basically due to its history and subsequent political changes throughout the years.

One is known as the the national flag which represents the country as a whole, and the other referred to as the state flag, which is mainly used for government bodies and agencies.

This division is aid to help provide clarity and distinction between national symbolism such as when Austrian national sports teams represent the country and administrative representation, for example on state buildings or when the representatives of the government are holding talks with other state leaders.

The national flag (Bundesflagge)

The Austrian national flag is seen as the training pitch of Austria’s national football team is prepared ahead of the Euro 2016 football tournament, in Mallemort, southern France, on June 6, 2016. (Photo by TOBIAS SCHWARZ / AFP)

The national flag represents the unity and autonomy of Austria, and it is mainly used for official purposes, diplomatic missions, and international events. It consists of three horizontal stripes of red, white, and red and it is one of the oldest national flags in Europe, with roots taking us back to the Middle Ages.

The flag was firstly associated with the Babenberg dynasty who ruled Austria from the 12th to the 13th century and later became a symbol of the Austrian territories within the Roman Empire. When the Roman Empire fell in 1806, the flag was accepted as the national flag of the Austrian Empire and persisted through different historical periods, including the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Following World War I, the flag was readopted as the national flag of the Republic of Austria in 1918.

READ ALSO: How much power do Austria’s state governments hold?

The state flag (Bundesdienstflagge)

An Austrian and a European flag flutter in the wind in front of the Austrian embassy in Berlin on November 3, 2020. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)

The state flag resembles the national flag but includes the Austrian coat of arms in shape of an eagle in the middle. It is used by Austrian federal authorities, government bodies, and state institutions.  The coat of arms symbolises Austria’s historical and cultural heritage and presents a golden eagle with a red shield that holds a hook and a hammer, representing labour and agriculture.

The state flag with its coat of arms have been used in Austria since the country regained its independency in 1945 following the end of World War II and the collapse of Nazi Germany. As a part of this regaining independency process, the state flag was adopted to represent the Austrian state and government institutions.

READ NEXT: Who are the new Austrian citizens in 2024?

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