Sirens, warning apps and cell broadcast will be tested on September 10th starting at 11 a.m
During the nationwide warning day on Thursday, September 10, 2026, the various warning systems will also be tested in Darmstadt. The test alarm will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the sirens. Warning messages will also be disseminated via apps, cell broadcast, and the electronic city information boards. This is solely a test – there is no danger and no action is required.
At 11:00 AM, a rising and falling siren tone will sound for one minute. In an emergency, this siren signal means "warning the population." The all-clear signal is scheduled for 11:45 AM and will be a continuous tone lasting one minute. Test announcements may be made between the two signals.
What the siren signals mean
In the event of an emergency, if a rising and falling siren sound is heard, citizens should seek shelter indoors, close doors and windows, turn on the radio or television, and listen for official announcements. They should also check for updates via warning apps, inform neighbors, and switch off ventilation and air conditioning systems.
However, on the warning day on September 10th, these signals will only serve to test the systems.
The warning also comes directly to your smartphone
In addition to sirens, the NINA and hessenWARN warning apps , as well as electronic city information boards, are being included in the test. Cell Broadcast is also being tested. This allows warning messages to be sent directly to suitable mobile phones in an affected area without prior registration or app installation.
To receive the message, the mobile phone must be switched on, have a mobile network signal, and have a suitable or up-to-date operating system. Messages will not be received in airplane mode. Not all older devices support Cell Broadcast.
The Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Relief also recommends activating warning messages of the lowest warning level so that all-clear messages can also be received via Cell Broadcast.
HessenWARN will be discontinued at the end of 2026
Users of hessenWARN will face a change: According to the city, the warning app will be discontinued at the end of 2026.From 2027, the state of Hesse will rely on the federal government's NINA warning app. Switching to NINA is therefore recommended.
Further Darmstadt test alarms are scheduled for December 10, 2026, the nationwide warning day on March 11, 2027, June 10, 2027, the nationwide warning day on September 9, 2027 and December 9, 2027 .
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/stip)
