Alert Systems Imperatively Required Immediately
In the aftermath of flood disasters along the Ahr and upper Erft rivers, the issue of timely warnings has become a significant concern for cities and communities. One solution to this challenge is the satellite-supported modular warning system (MoWaS), which is connected to a network of geographical sensors, meteorological services, and emergency agencies.
MoWaS aggregates and analyses hazard data in real-time, enabling authorities to determine urgent threat levels and generate official alerts. These alerts are then transmitted via satellite networks and terrestrial cellular infrastructure, ensuring rapid and reliable distribution of emergency information. In the Rhein-Kreis Neuss region, MoWaS is integrated with mobile network operators and satellite infrastructure to push warning alerts to residents’ smartphones quickly and securely.
Though specific details on MoWaS’s smartphone alert methodology in Rhein-Kreis Neuss were not found in the search results, the typical operation of such systems includes several key elements:
- Data Collection & Analysis: MoWaS collects real-time hazard data from various sources and analyses it to determine the level of urgency.
- Decision & Alert Creation: Authorities analyze the data to determine the threat levels and generate official alerts.
- Alert Transmission via Satellite & Networks: Satellite networks complement terrestrial cellular infrastructure, especially during disasters when local communication lines may fail.
- Smartphone Reception: Smartphones receive alerts through integrated wireless means—cellular networks primarily, but also through satellite-based messaging or apps designed to receive emergency notifications even when terrestrial networks are compromised.
In addition to smartphone alerts, MoWaS's official warning alerts are also sent to broadcast and television stations and displayed on Ströer's digital billboards, located in high-traffic areas of Neuss, including road junctions, the train station, the Rheinpark Center, and the pedestrian zone (from November). Ströer finances the operation of these digital billboards through paid advertising inserts.
Ströer has been involved with MoWaS since 2018, working with the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, the interior authority of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, and a technical service provider. The goal is to improve the current situation and provide timely warnings that could potentially prevent tragedies like the one in Erftstadt, where many lives could have been saved with timely warnings but were not given.
Another approach to providing timely warnings could involve vehicles equipped with loudspeakers driving through affected areas and distributing concrete information to the population. Such measures could prove beneficial in ensuring the safety of residents in emergencies.
Technology plays a crucial role in the implementation and effectiveness of General-news systems like MoWaS, as it leverages satellite-supported modular warning systems, geographical sensors, meteorological services, and emergency agencies to ensure timely and reliable warnings during flood disasters. Additionally, the integration of MoWaS with mobile network operators and satellite infrastructure in Rhein-Kreis Neuss allows for quick and secure delivery of smartphone alerts to residents, contributing to enhanced safety and potentially preventing tragedies.
