Rescue Service tests EE-ALARM: refresh your and your family’s sheltering skills

October is Civil Protection Month, and on Wednesday, October 14, the Estonian Rescue Services Agency, together with its partners, will conduct a test of the EE-ALARM public warning system, including the activation of sirens. Numerous institutions and businesses across Estonia will practise sheltering procedures, and everyone is encouraged to review their knowledge of sheltering. 

Between 15:00 and 15:10, the nationwide siren network will be activated using the real emergency warning signal. Notifications will also be sent via the Eesti app, the “Ole valmis!" mobile application, and ERR channels. Around midday, an SMS reminder about the test will be sent. The exercise is being conducted in cooperation with the Information Technology and Development Centre of the Ministry of the Interior (SMIT), the Emergency Response Centre (HÄK), the Information System Authority (RIA), the Government Office, and the Women's Voluntary Defence Organisation. No separate notification will be sent when the test has concluded. 

On the day of the test, the Rescue Service encourages residents, businesses and public institutions to take a moment to consider, and ideally practise, where they would take shelter if necessary, wherever they may happen to be at the time, whether at home, at work, in town or in a shopping centre. 

“When the sirens sound, it means only one thing: you must seek shelter immediately. And you must shelter where you are at that moment. To keep sheltering skills and awareness fresh, it is worth revising them from time to time. The nationwide public warning system test is an excellent opportunity to do so and requires only a few minutes of your day,” said Viktor Saaremets, Deputy Director General of the Estonian Rescue Services Agency. 

Among those taking part in sheltering exercises on the testing day are the Rotermann Quarter in Tallinn, the Education and Youth Board, a Viimsi kindergarten, and several other institutions and businesses. 

More detailed guidance on sheltering can be found at www.olevalmis.ee. Feedback on the nationwide public warning system test can be submitted after the exercise via the survey available at www.kriis.ee. 

Testing the EE-ALARM public warning system is essential for assessing developments in real-life conditions, identifying shortcomings, and determining further development needs. Large-scale nationwide tests, including the activation of sirens using the emergency warning signal, are conducted regularly three times a year. 

During the exercise, the audibility and coverage of the sirens will be measured in nine Estonian cities in order to identify areas where additional sirens may be required. 

The EE-ALARM public warning system will next be tested on February 10 next year.