Warning the population
Civil protection
The district of Waldeck-Frankenberg works closely with the federal government and the state of Hesse within the framework of civil defence to ensure that the district is optimally prepared for various crisis scenarios. Civil defence encompasses all measures that ensure the safety and protection of the population in the event of a disaster, such as a permanent power outage or a major fire. Civil protection consists of disaster control and civil defence.
Disaster management
Civil protection is activated in the event of all disasters that are not a case of defence, e.g. storms, floods or major industrial accidents. In Germany, the federal states are responsible for disaster control, but are supported by the federal government (official/disaster relief). In the event of a disaster, the civil protection authorities work together with the aid organisations (e.g. DRK, ASB, Johanniter, Malteser) and the fire brigade to ensure the safety and care of the population.
Possible disaster situations in Hesse include
- Weather events (e.g. heavy rain, storms, heat, flooding)
- Forest and vegetation fires
- Accidents in chemical industry plants
- Crash of a large commercial aircraft
- Transport accidents involving the release of large quantities of hazardous substances
- Rail accidents, especially on high-speed lines and in tunnels
- Infectious diseases and epidemics
- Disruption or failure of critical infrastructures
- War (case of defence)
- Reception, care and accommodation of evacuees and refugees in the acute phase
Civil defence measures
In the area of civil defence, the district is currently working on civil alarm planning, in particular on the creation of an alarm calendar to ensure and prepare civil measures, such as supplying the civilian population and defence capability. An important part of civil defence is warning the population. Warning systems such as the cell broadcast, various warning apps such as HessenWARN and the classic sirens are used for this purpose. In most towns and municipalities in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district, the siren control units have already been converted from analogue to digital radio.
Recommendations for self-care
The district recommends that all citizens inform themselves about the federal government's emergency preparedness guide. Among other things, this guide provides information on which documents should be kept ready for which eventuality and how the population can prepare for an emergency.
Warning devices in the test
In order to be able to warn people in the best possible way in the event of possible disasters, the various warning devices are rehearsed at regular intervals. On this day, sirens are also triggered in Waldeck-Frankenberg and test warnings are sent to smartphones. Important to know: The day is a test, there is no real danger.
Dangerous weather conditions, chemical accidents, power failures, fires and much more: situations in which the population must be warned of dangers across the board can be many and varied. In the hope that these may not materialise, it is nevertheless advisable to prepare for an emergency - and also to practise warning the population. After all, the more familiar you are with the topic, the more independently and effectively you can act and protect yourself in an actual crisis situation.