Loud Alarming Sounds

By Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
Switzerland
February 3, 2016 8:33am CST
We had just finished our lunch, when a loud noise filled the air, a very loud sound of alarm sirens. I looked out but I could not identify the direction of the sound. I was a bit scared and tried to find if there was a problem, when I realized that today is the first Wednesday of February. Every year, on the first Wednesday in February, all sirens across Switzerland are tested. The purpose is to check the operational readiness of the "General Alarm" system in case of major problems. I am we were notified of this event, but, as usual, I forgot. Is there a similar test in your country?
44 people like this
41 responses
M.-L.
@MALUSE (69388)
• Germany
3 Feb 16
I remember that we had that once. But it isn't done regularly. Disturbing as it is, it's definitely useful. The Swiss think of everything!
11 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 16
Also in France they tested the alarms... the first Wednesday of EVERY month! That was too much and annoying.
7 people like this
Jabo
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
3 Feb 16
No we don't have anything like that in the UK. That could be extremely noisy if they set them off all together. It does make sense to test them though.
9 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 16
They are set all together, but to be honest, I only heard the one at the top of our city hall and the one of the neighbor village, but it's because we are very near their town hall. In France they tested them the first Wednesday of each month, a bit too much.
7 people like this
Marlina
@marlina (154165)
• Canada
3 Feb 16
We don't have that system as far as I know.
6 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 16
I think that it's still in place since WWII and to announce possible flooding and alike.
4 people like this
Bobby Larkin
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
3 Feb 16
I am glad that is all it was.. We don't have anything like that here where I live but other places may..
6 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 16
I have read from a user that they had this system. It is possible that it's not mandatory.
4 people like this
James Higgins
@JamesHxstatic (29420)
• Eugene, Oregon
3 Feb 16
No. we have nothing like that that am aware of, except there are some coastal towns on the Pacific that have drills in event of a tsunami. That would be startling.
5 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 16
We still have this system that was in place during WWII to announce the aerial bombardments. Of course is the more useful, because a catastrophic event can arrive at any moment.
1 person likes this
G
@nottoooldtowrite (2715)
• Philippines
3 Feb 16
We do not have that kind of test. But we do have drills - earthquake, fire, and first aid.
6 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 16
And how do they announce an imminent catastrophe if you have not alarms?
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 16
@nottoooldtowrite Last year one alarm failed to sound, it would have been a problem in case of danger.
4 people like this
G
@nottoooldtowrite (2715)
• Philippines
3 Feb 16
@LadyDuck we have alarms. We just do not have the test as how you do yours in your country.
4 people like this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
3 Feb 16
Here the sirens go off every Wednesday to alert people in case of a major problem like a tornado coming close.
4 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 16
I think it's a good system, because everybody hear them even those who do not have radio, TV and internet.
3 people like this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
3 Feb 16
@LadyDuck It is a good system because even living out of town like we do you can hear the Wednesday sirens going off. They are extremely loud.
4 people like this
Michelle
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
3 Feb 16
That is cool that your area tests general alarm systems. My area doesn't and if they do I highly doubt I'd hear it though. But occasionally they have testing on tv or radios.
3 people like this
Michelle
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
4 Feb 16
@LadyDuck That is a good idea. I don't think we have any tests in my area.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 16
They do not test on TV and radios because they consider this system not useful at all, a major catastrophe can happen in the middle of the night, when people are in their beds.
2 people like this
sofs
@sofssu (23662)
•
3 Feb 16
Wow .. that is a great system to alert people in times of disaster.. we have nothing like that here.
4 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 16
I remember we also had this in France and they tested the system every month.
2 people like this
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (49383)
• United States
3 Feb 16
Not that I know of.
4 people like this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
3 Feb 16
in the towns they test those one a week on mondays, but I live so far out I cant hear them
4 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 16
Once a week is too much, it can be very annoying, it's really loud.
3 people like this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
3 Feb 16
@LadyDuck yeah the few times I was in town during a test I agree, still, we have tornadoes a lot, so it's the price you pay
3 people like this
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (23392)
• United Kingdom
3 Feb 16
We do not here in the UK Anna but I know in France they test their alarms every month!
4 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 16
Yes Gary, in France they test their alarms the 1st Wednesday of every month at noon. We lived in Monte-Carlo, but we heard the alarm of the little village of Beausoleil, that is attached to Monaco.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (247205)
• United States
3 Feb 16
No, but our television tests for emergency warnings and the highway alerts us to missing children, etc.
4 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 16
We still have this old system that was in place during the aerial bombardments of WWII that is the most effective, a major disaster can happen at any moment of the day or the night.
2 people like this
DianneN
@DianneN (247205)
• United States
4 Feb 16
@LadyDuck We do have air raid warnings for such disasters. I just remembered.
1 person likes this
Diana Abrahamson
@dianadee (1778)
• South Africa
3 Feb 16
Better to be safe than sorry..good to have trial runs!
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 16
@dianadee Yes, it's better to be safe, even if we all hope that the alarms will never be necessary.
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 16
I agree, this morning the authorities announced that the 2% of the tested alarms need to be repaired.
1 person likes this
Diana Abrahamson
@dianadee (1778)
• South Africa
4 Feb 16
@LadyDuck Better to fix all the faulty alarm systems before a major national emergency!
1 person likes this
Always smiling
@allknowing (130538)
• India
4 Feb 16
That sound must have been pretty bad for your ears. How long did it last?
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 16
It only lasts a few seconds, the time to check if the alarms work. They do this in winter because people are inside with the windows shut.
2 people like this
Alfredo Rossi
@amadeo (111942)
• United States
3 Feb 16
Not here that I know of.
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 16
Surely not, because if they had something like this, you would hear them.
3 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (29266)
• United Kingdom
3 Feb 16
As far as I know we do not have any 'general alarm' system like that anywhere in the UK. The only similar system I've come across was when I lived in the Midwest US and there they had a tornado warning siren.
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 16
This system is the same that was in place during WWII to announce aerial bombardments, it sounds sinister, especially to those who experienced those times.
2 people like this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (310126)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
3 Feb 16
Every Wednesday at noon we have the alarm going off. I didn't hear it today, but I know it went off.
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 16
In France the tested every first Wednesday of the month at noon.
2 people like this
Scindhia H
@Scindhia (1906)
• India
4 Feb 16
That is new to me.We don't have anything like that here. The only time a siren is heard is if we are near a factory. Sirens are used to communicate time.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 16
The bells of our Churches communicate time, our factories do not have sirens audible outside the factory.
1 person likes this
Linda Cann Pearson
@LindaCPearson (2241)
• United States
3 Feb 16
I know how you feel. Every time I hear an alarm go off, it really scares me, even those preplanned mandatory tests the town and state do every now and then.
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461938)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 16
I should have known that it was a test, but for a moment I was scared.
3 people like this