Launched: Siren Aid Initiative Unveiled
The Siren Promotion Program, a joint initiative between the federal government and the state of Baden-Württemberg, is aimed at financially relieving communities and strengthening their warning capabilities. The program provides over 1.5 million euros to cities and communities for siren infrastructure investments.
Thomas Strobl, Deputy Minister President and Minister of the Interior, emphasized the importance of this program, stating that it would help communities prepare for emergencies more effectively. The focus is on a "warning mix" to reach as many people as possible in the most diverse life contexts, as relying solely on one warning tool is insufficient.
The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance is responsible for warning efforts within Germany. They work closely with the Ministry of the Interior, Digitalization, and Communities, which is also involved in the Siren Promotion Program.
The Modular Warning System (MoWaS) plays a crucial role in these efforts. Baden-Württemberg has been using the nationwide satellite-based MoWaS system for official population warnings since October 2016. MoWaS enables various warning media and multipliers to be targeted with a single input, and is currently connected to several warning apps, cell broadcast, broadcasting and television institutions, digital city information boards, and public transport companies.
In addition to the systems connected to MoWaS, municipalities can use their own warning means, such as sirens or vehicles for loudspeaker announcements, in an emergency. The funding program supports sirens on roofs, buildings, and free-standing masts, as well as siren control receivers for connecting sirens to the MoWaS system. The funding amount per measure ranges from 1,000 to 17,350 euros and covers costs for personnel, electrical installation, and aerial work platforms, in addition to the siren system.
In 2024, authorities from municipalities, cities, districts, and the state sent a total of 260 warning messages via the MoWaS system, most of which were issued by municipalities, cities, and districts. Notable recipients of financial support through the Sirenen-Förderprogramm 2025 to invest in their siren infrastructure include 22 communities in the Rems-Murr district, with Weinstadt and Winnenden prioritized for funding; additionally, the city of Ladenburg received about €54,000 from a federal special siren funding program.
For more information or to get in touch with the Ministry of the Interior, contact details for the Press Office and Citizen Representative are available on their website, along with a designated contact form. The ministry is committed to digitalization and communities, and continues to work towards enhancing warning capabilities across Baden-Württemberg.
