Sirens warn of high water, flooding or floods

Climate change is increasing the risk of floods in many regions around the world. Rivers burst their banks, mountain streams with little water become raging torrents and thus flash floods, mountain slopes dissolve into mudslides, hurricane-force winds lead to storm surge near the shore. These are different scenarios of a flood:

  • Flood
  • Flash flood or mudslide
  • Storm surge

In planning a warning system, it is therefore necessary to distinguish between the different types of flood. Floods caused by rivers overflowing their banks are usually predictable. The levels rise slowly and allow the population to be prepared. The flood-prone zone depends on the topography and is usually known or can be delimited in simulation scenarios.

Population protection is more difficult during flash floods. They occur when the ground can no longer absorb large amounts of water, usually due to heavy rainfall. In mountainous terrain, a flood wave develops that seeks its way uncontrollably down into the valley, often carrying soil with it. The high velocity of the flow and the sediment it often contains have great mechanical forces. Flash floods are difficult to predict and can occur away from flowing water. Mudslides have the same cause. Reliable population protection is much more challenging here.

Storm surges are confined to coastal areas. According to Munich Re, they harbor huge loss potentials and have claimed the highest number of lives in the past. However, population protection concepts can prepare well for possible storm surges by making appropriate forecasts.

 

Sirens as a central component of the flood warning system

Sirens are the warning tool of choice and indispensable alongside digital warning tools such as warning apps or cell broadcast. With their alarm, they take over the wake-up function and thus prompt the population to inform themselves. Due to predefined signal tones, the triggering can take place within seconds. The siren warning does not require the active cooperation or readiness to receive of the population.

 

Requirements for a siren warning system:

  • Every person in the endangered area must be reached by the siren alarm. This determines the number and locations of the sirens. This is preceded by a sound forecast, which takes into account the topological and structural conditions.
  • The alarm must not be dependent on the availability of electricity or the mobile network, only then is it reliable.
  • The sirens must therefore be operational independently of the power grid. In the case of electronic sirens, this is done using batteries as the power source.
  • The sirens must be ready for operation without major maintenance effort
  • The siren control center must be easy to operate and enable rapid, but only authorized, triggering
  • Provide alternative triggering options on site

 

How does a flood warning system work

Warning systems today are digital, networked concepts. If the readings from sensors exceed a critical mark and there is a threat of high water, flooding or inundation, siren alarms are triggered and the warning chain is set in motion. People then receive further information on how to get to safety via media such as apps, TV, radio or even voice announcements from the siren.

Sirens are an important part of a flood warning system
Solar power supply with battery buffering makes electronic sirens self-sufficient and independent of the location

Solar power supply with battery buffering makes electronic sirens self-sufficient and independent of the location

When setting up a siren warning system, independence from the power grid is often required. There are many reasons for this. Often, the optimal location is simply not connected to the power grid and it would be too costly to set up an independent grid connection. Or self-sufficient operation is deliberately desired.

INTERSCHUTZ 2022 - Visit us: Hall 17, Stand E24
-    •    Hannover, Germany

INTERSCHUTZ 2022 - Visit us: Hall 17, Stand E24

In June 2022 (20 to 25.6.22), INTERSCHUTZ will open its doors again in Hanover, Germany, after a break of several years due to the pandemic. In Hall 17, Stand E24, HÖRMANN Warnsysteme will focus on sirens for the siren promotion program in Germany as well as the integration of electronic sirens into modern communication infrastructures, e.g. based on TETRA.

Anna Hörmann neu in der Geschäftsführung der HÖRMANN Warnsysteme GmbH

Anna Hörmann joins the management board of HÖRMANN Warnsysteme GmbH

The town of Limbach tested its new siren warning system

Siren warning - the German town of Limbach tested its successfully its new siren warning system

Today at 3 p.m., the German town of Limbach-Oberfrohna tested its siren warning system. In addition to the siren alarm, recorded voice texts were played and subjected to a perception test. Everything went off to the utmost satisfaction.

 

Volcanic eruption near Tonga - Ecuador sets off electronic sirens

Volcanic eruption near Tonga - Ecuador sets off electronic sirens

A happy new year 2022 - stay healthy

We wish you a happy and successful new year

Presentation: Siren warning with TETRA in Germany

Siren warning in Germany - we are at the forefront of developments

Experts for disaster management meet at PMR Expo

Experts for disaster management met at this years PMR Expo

The PMR Expo took place in Cologne as an industry meeting place for fire protection and disaster control. As a leading provider of siren warning systems, we were of course also on site with a stand.