In hazardous situations and emergencies, the authorities warn the public of a direct and imminent danger to the population with a general alarm signal and an emergency warning. In accordance with the decades-old practice the public warning signal system is tested at 12 noon on the first Monday of each month. The audible test sign is a continuous steady alarm sound which lasts seven seconds. Testing doesn’t require any measures from the public.
The test signal differs from the one used in real emergency situations. The public warning sign used in real situations is a one-minute ascending beep (7 seconds) and a descending beep (7 seconds) or a warning announcement. The public warning signal is always accompanied by an emergency warning which is broadcast on all radio channels and, if necessary, displayed on YLE’s, MTV3’s and Nelonen's teletext page 112 and in television programs as running text on top of the screen.
Helsinki City Rescue Department has reveiced a large number of enquiries regarding civil defence. To answer frequently asked questions the Rescue Department has collected a Q&A list on their webpage: https://www.hel.fi/pela/en/Civil+defence/ The on-call fire safety inspector will answer to Helsinki residents’ inquiries concerning self-preparedness and civil defence (tel. +358 9 310 31203) on weekdays between 9am and 11am and 12 noon to 2pm and by e-mail between 9am and 3pm at palotarkastaja@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program).
More information: https://pelastustoimi.fi/en/home-everyday-life/emergencies/alarm-signal(Link leads to external service)
The news has been published on 4.3. and has been updated on 7.3.