The signal you will be hearing during this siren test is the one used to alert the general public toa public announcement. It consists of a siren wail that rises and falls over a sixty-second period. Its purpose is to warn of a serious threat to public safety and prompt people to switch on their radio sets to listen for announcements. The alert multipliers will also send the test alert to radio stations, smartphones and other systems, but this is likely time-delayed and will not necessarily coincide with the siren test. Therefore, the test alert will probably reach you via different media.
You do not need to take any action when you hear this alert, as its purpose is only to test the public warning systems.
Please note: For some people (e.g. the elderly, refugees from war zones or children), loud warning signals can trigger fear or post-traumatic stress. If you know of someone in your environment who may be affected in this way, we recommend that you prepare them for the situation and, if possible, that you do not leave them alone during the test alert.
You can find more information on the website of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance [German content].