That was so scary!! I don't know what it was!

Just read in the paper.  It was the annual Swiss Alerting system testing.  Ignore

Same old thing going on for years - practising their alarms!!!!! Like, are your fallout shelters still running? looool

Nothing to worry about...

Every first Wednesday in February, Geneva tests its security installations (sirens). It's a national thing - but I don't know whether it's the first Wednesday in February in other cantons too.

So it is normal - you can leave your hiding-place under your desk, you are safe.

If ever Switzerland was attacked on such a day, nobody would think of danger - because everyone thinks that it would be just a test as every year....

Now guys imagine this: THERE IS an atomic attack.

THE SWISS ALL HAVE FALLOUT SHELTERS.

We are the only SURVIVORS - now how scary does that sound????

I think it's hilarious! so swiss!!!!! and also, such a bizarre experience right? it feels like we're going to be attacked by an air raid...

:S I am not sure I liked that.

Only got here on sunday and then this morning OH went off to Milan on business for the night and I am always nervous of staying in a strange place on my own and then the next thing I know theres sirens and I'm running around the apartment like a headless chicken trying to find somewhere to hide!

I am sure OH will be very amused when I tell him.

Thanks all, I was just wondering myself what's going on!

Charlotte that's so funny! me too! My partner is going to think i'm a complete numpty when i tell him! ;0)

what are the sirens for in the first place? incase of an invasion? This is quite amusing as an Australian. If anyone made it to attack Australia they would probably have a nap first. Even in the event of a national bushfire, we just get sent the old text message to our mobile phones to request our departure. 

I was in Slovakia in my wifes home town recently when the proper old school air raid siren went off...bloody hilarious.

The sirons were installed before WW2 as a warning system.. Then when the war ended, they kept them up for national emergencies (in case, say, of an earthquake or nuclear plant melt-down). They just test them once a year to make sure they're all still working. There's also a special siren for floods (in case a dam breaks or it rains like there's no tomorrow).

We're lucky it's only once a year, in France it's every month! Although I have to say the French siren is nowhere near as terrifying as this one -- I thought the military barracks were under attack!!!!

(And yes, the common joke is that we're all scared the Germans will invade again)

Thank you, very helpful ... That was weird!

General warning, test.

Don't you listen to the radio?

If the siren restarts more than 3 times it means it's real .. Not a test.

You should go directly to you bunker. Run

The alarm? i don't know if it is so typical swiss,  these alert system testings exist in Germany too.

Siren tests are carried out in many countries and there’s nothing hilarious about them.  If ever there was an emergency situation – not necessarily an “attack” – you would be reassured to hear a warning noise that would alert you to the need to look for shelter.  So be grateful that a regular practice exercisee exists.

R.

To any of you who might find it useful, I found some information about what each siren means and how to recognize them and posted about it on: http://jhabiteageneve.com/2014/02/05/sirens-in-geneva-today/

In case we ever hear them out of tests context, it's good to know! Cheers!

Here's the humorous ad circulated by the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate announcing today's siren tests.

Jesus, this just happened again so I googled "loud sirens paquis geneve" and found this post. It's indeed the first Wedenesday of February so at least the world isn't ending, which is nice since I paid for French lessons through the end of the month.

I was also wondering what it was! Thanks Ben. 

hahhahahahhaah

not bad :)

try some valium, they will make you sleep well and clear-up your mind

Dear Ritchie, 

in case of Real attack (war,chemical, radiation) everyone, including you, will think the Sirens sound it is a test. Better use Facebook to announce the people, as 90% have an account

Since you are a Swiss (and no doubt upright) citizen, why don’t you forward your erudite observation to Mr Alain Berset?

If needed, you can find his address at your fount  of all wisdom aka Facebook.

Best of ..

R.

Yeh.... come out of the shelter and breathe the air, eat the food.........

I heard it downtown too....thanks for sharing what it was!

Time to admit....I'm pleased to read a whole 10% of people don't have Facebook! I don't and the conversations that ensue are always highly entertaining :)

maybe it's already 11%:

Facebook daily users decline for 1st time

I also have do not use Facebook 

I also heard that Facebook’s figures were declining.

The alarms are also used to inform the population in case of natural disasters, not only attacks

And  rightly so.

Just because Switzerland is often regarded as a “safe haven” for certain types of activity doesn’t mean it’s also safe from the caprice of Mother Nature.