May 4 - yearly test of warning sirens

The testing

We test the systems every year to ensure that the warning sirens work and to remind people how to react in an actual emergency.

Watch the official video at brs.dk (Beredskabsstyrelsen / Danish Emergency Management Agency) and hear what it sounds like. A fact sheet about the siren signals is available in many languages.

Sounding of sirens

When a major accident or disaster involves an acute danger of injury or property damage, it is possible to warn the Danish population of such risk by means of Denmark’s national electronic siren warning system.

Siren warning system

The Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) operates and maintains the siren warning system. The system has a total of 1,078 sirens covering about 80 % of the Danish population. A separate uninterruptible power supply allows the sirens to work in the event of a power failure. The sirens are fixed to buildings or poles in cities and urban areas with more than 1,000 people. Outside these areas, the police may decide to use mobile sirens.

In the event of a major accident or disaster

The police may decide to use the sirens. At the same time an emergency message will be broadcasted by the two national TV stations DR and TV2.

What should you do?

At the sound of the sirens, go inside and tune into DR or TV2. Preferably make sure that all bystanders have understood the warning signal. DR and TV2 will now inform the population of the situation, issuing instructions of what to do. These messages will originate from the police or other authorities.

Learn more about the public warnings in case of an emergency at brs.dk.