Germany follows the Netherlands with the rollout of NL-Alert
Germany noticed the need for a system that we have known in the Netherlands for some time now.
If something really goes wrong, you could hear an air raid siren. Scattered over the country there are a large number of sirens that can warn in case of emergency. A somewhat old system, which is why the government wants it to be completely replaced by NL-Alert soon.
NL-Alert
At NL-Alert a message is sent on your mobile phone. You have probably already received a control message. However, the advantage of NL-Alert is that it is possible to report locally and specifically what is there and what you must do. For example, in the event of a major fire, you will receive a message to keep windows and doors closed, but only if you are in the danger zone of the fire. The rollout still has a few snags, but in general we will probably be able to get started with it in full in the not too distant future.
Germany
In any case, the system of cell broadcast an inspiration for other countries. So is Germany. In our Eastern neighbors it went quite wrong with flooding halfway through this year and people died because they were attacked by the water. With an NL-Alert-like system it would have been better to warn people preventively. Therefore, the administration of Germany has the possibility to cell broadcast, that which triggers an alert message, has been approved.
It is not known whether there is a direct connection between the large roll-out of NL-Alert in the Netherlands and the decision in Germany. It is unknown when the German version will be rolled out.
