2023-07-05 12:14:13
People in Tuscany were the first to trial a new nationwide emergency alert system on Wednesday, as mobile phones in the region received a text message from Italy’s civil protection agency around 12pm.
Incidentally, the alert was sent out only minutes before a 3.7-magnitude earthquake sent people in Siena, central Tuscany, rushing out of buildings and into the streets – an unfortunate coincidence which residents were quick to point out on social media.
The shock of #earthquake in #Tuscany is clearly the result of merging the vibration of all cell phones that have received the #ITalert combined with the jolts on the chairs of their respective owners! #heart attack #sischerza #help
— Debora Sacchetti (@nonnadebby) June 28, 2023
But, despite the unpleasant twist of fate, the test was described as “successful” by local media reports.
Following the Tuscany trial, the new emergency system, which goes by the name of ‘IT-alert’, will now be tested in Sardinia on Friday, and then in Sicily, Calabria and Emilia-Romagna in the first half of July.
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Tests in all other Italian regions will be completed by the end of 2023, with the system expected to be implemented at a national level at some point in 2024.
How will IT-Alert work?
IT-alert will largely operate in the same way as the alert systems already in place in France, Spain and Germany.
Notably, in the case of “ongoing or imminent emergencies or catastrophic events”, the system will “send all mobile phones in a specific geographic area a public alert via text”, according to It-Alert’s website.
The text message, which will be available both in Italian and Englishwill include info on the event of interest as well as any “self-protection measures to be adopted immediately”.
Once operative, IT-alert will warn people in a specific area of ongoing or imminent dangers via text message. Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP
Importantly, mobile phones, including devices set on silent mode, will emit a prolonged alert tone upon receiving the text. The tone will be “well distinguishable and different from usual ringtones”.
The system will not require people to subscribe to notification services nor to download any apps.
What events will people be notified of?
IT-alert will be used to notify people of serious emergencies or natural disasters unfolding or about to take place in their area.
According to its official website, the system will be used in the case of:
Tsunamis
Volcanic activity
Nuclear incidents
Incidents involving dangerous or life-threatening substances
Extreme weather events
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Who will operate the alert system?
In its current trial phase, IT-alert is being operated by Italy’s civil protection agency (Civil protection).
Once operative on a national scale however, police forces, local fire departments and emergency services from the National Health Service (National Health Service) will also be able to send out alerts to the public.
#Milan #streets #flooded #Lombardy #hit #weeks #rainfall #hours