Estonia tests EE-ALARM warning system and measures siren volume in nine towns
Estonia's Rescue Board ran a nationwide test of its EE-ALARM public warning system on 14 October, measuring how far sirens can be heard in nine towns. The results will help decide whether the siren network needs to be expanded.
Estonia held a nationwide test of its EE-ALARM public warning system on Wednesday, 14 October. The Rescue Board, working with partners, organised the exercise to find out how far sirens can be heard not only in Tallinn but also in several smaller towns, and whether improvements made so far are sufficient. The results will show whether Estonia needs additional sirens.
How the test unfolded
Advance notification began around noon, when people were sent text messages about the upcoming test. The message reached a million devices within 17 minutes. The sirens were switched on at 15:01. According to preliminary data, the whole Estonian siren network activated within a few seconds and at the intended volume.
Alerts were also sent through Eesti Äpp, the state services app run by the State Information System Authority (RIA), and through the "Ole valmis!" app created by Naiskodukaitse. Text notices appeared on ERR's channels ETV and ETV+, on the ERR.ee website and in the ERR news app.
Measurements and next steps
Sound pressure levels were measured in Kärdla, Keila, Kuressaare, Valga, Võru, Põlva, Viljandi, Sillamäe and Paldiski. The Rescue Board and the Information Technology and Development Centre of the Ministry of the Interior (SMIT) will use the data to assess whether the siren network should be expanded.
The technical integration of the websites kriis.ee and olevalmis.ee was also checked. Both worked without faults, and the sites can now be used to verify the authenticity of EE-ALARM messages. October is civil protection month in Estonia, and during the test a number of institutions and companies practised sheltering in crisis situations.
The Rescue Board asks the public to leave feedback on the test at kriis.ee by the end of the week. The next nationwide EE-ALARM test is scheduled for 10 February. Estonia also plans to introduce cell broadcast technology by 2027, which will allow warnings to be sent instantly to smartphones and, depending on the danger level, trigger a sound and light signal even if the phone is on silent.
