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On Saturday morning, sirens will sound throughout Austria: The annual civil defense test alarm not only checks the technology, but also aims to raise awareness of warning signals. At the same time, the digital warning system AT-Alert will be tested.
Many people are unfamiliar with the warning signals
On Saturday, October 4, 2025, the annual civil defense test alarm will be conducted throughout Austria between 12:00 p.m. and 12:45 p.m. Following a siren test, the three official civil defense signals “warning,” “alarm,” and “all clear” will also be broadcast. The aim is both to test the warning system and to inform the population about the meaning of the signals.
The 8,300 fire sirens in the country will be controlled centrally – depending on the danger situation – by the Federal Warning Center in the Ministry of the Interior, the provincial warning centers, or district warning centers.
AT-Alert supplements the siren system
As in the previous year, the test alarm will be supplemented by test messages via the AT-Alert system. Between 12:00 and 13:00, text messages will be sent directly to cell phones in the affected area. These will be received independently of mobile phone contracts and apps – and only on devices that are logged in in the respective area.
AT-Alert serves to provide quick and targeted information about threats such as storms, floods, or forest fires in an emergency. The system has been in operation since 2023 and is intended to supplement, not replace, the classic siren warning system.
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