I can confirm that they work.

Me too.  R.

Excellent, one of them was a bit too old, but they functioned well.

I'm glad I came on here and found out this morning, Or I would have been hiding under my duvet! (Not that that would do much!)

i never heard a thing here in eaux-vives, should i have?  or are they only in certain places?  or do i just need to turn down star wars?!

I was, and still am, in the Eaux-Vives and I heard two tests well enough.  The second could have been a bit louder.  Both could have been longer, but perhaps they would be in the case of real emergency.

R.

Authorities did announce the test would last one minute, which in normal condition is a long duration, and loud too especially if you live/work near one of those sirens on one the roofs above.Test lasted from 1:30pm to 3:00pm, spread all over the whole canton with no less than 116 sirens. By same time  there was also a loud test with siren blows below Chancy and Versoix water dams just-in-case of flooding zone

In case of real emergency it will last much longer with repeat warning announcement on Radio Suisse Romande, and who knows, may be relayed by using social medias as well...! For those who wish to know more on risks and threats that justify real alerts please see the link in english:

http://www.ch.ch/gefahren/02012/02049/index.html?lang=en

Happy reading. We are in good hands.

I would never doubt that Swiss hands aren’t good.

And thanks for the link.

R.

you can all sleep in peace. These alarming sounds are meant to confirm a previously announced emergency requiring the population to evacuate open areas and use prepared shelters. In a few specific areas like valleys with a major dam, it means a catastrophic flooding. In case of active war, it was meant to inform the locals that the army was about to blow a major piece of infrastructure.

Those who were here in Spring '86 probably remember the actual preparation to shelter the Swiss population. Private bunkers were stocked with carbs (and  wine) and schools rehearsed orderly "going undergound". I remember my parents freeing the armored doors in the basement and trying the air pump in the house and telling me about those blackout nights when they were young. But they lived through WW2. Quite a learning experience for an 18yo with "peace'n'love" philosophy.

Oddly the threat obeyed national borders. Austria and France never saw any of this. Neither did Italy nor Spain. Germany was told "some slightly unsimpathetic" things were on the way but nothing worth stopping one's work. 

Anyhow, hearing the sirens was actually dreaded. Luckily we did not hear them.

Today this is a cliché from the cold war. Still somehow it feels good to know we can be alarmed in case of major catastrophe. i.e if aliens decide to attack Geneva instead of NY or Minneapolis for a change... seems like they got the wrong map though

'hope you had a colorful day. I had to explain my colleagues that the russian army was not about to invade the Quai du Mt-Blanc... 

So in case of a major catastrophe or an alien attack....I would probably become a forgotten soul since I didn't hear a thing today..  :-/

In case of an alien attack,  the Doctor would save us....

Russians have already invaded Switzerland...... theyre all hiding in Verbier or Floor Two...

Edward,

Your always provide good insight and observations.

Well done.

Stella, your supposed to run to the nearest shelter, if in your home or appartment building designated place, or local commun shelter.

Its fun to go get a few drink or bring a bottle too share with others who go.

During this siren, alot of young men get called up for the Civil service to 'man' those shelters/bunkers. So enjoy the moment with those strapping young men in uniforms.

hehehehhehe

I wanna be locked in a nuclear bunker with loads of hot chicks, and several bottles of vodka and a game of twister....

(oh did I say that aloud?)

Sorry, only swiss wines and fondue are authorized in our bunkers.

but you can bring all the hot chicks you want.

Sorry to be a wet blanket and spoil the fun, but I just wonder if there’s anyone out who’s actually had to take refuge in an air raid shelter for real.

R.

I have... well.. more a deep ditch in the sand to be honest .... and was hiding from the threat of long range rockets rather than planes with bombs...

Still, even then some pretty looking company would have made it somewhat more bearable. 

Can't for a second imagine the terror of the ww2 bombings (from either side)

Thanks, Charlie.  I can’t begin to imagine the terror of a long-range rocket attack.

As for WW2. I don’t  remember that I was ever frightened, only the frantic scramble for shelter at the sound of that siren whine. 

But when I was working in Cairo in the 60s there was a siren test I somehow hadn’t heard about ahead of time.  I panicked as scenes of falling masonry flashed through my mind. So perhaps I had been scared by the bombing after all.

As for  high jinks in shelters, the birth-rate certain ly went up in WW2, but then it always does in war situations.  Because of an instinct to preserve the human race?

R. 

So the fact I did not hear any sirens means I've had it if there ever is an emergency I guess.....

Not to worry, just leave it to science.

R.

If you missed things and you want to hear the sirens (turn up the volume of your speakers).

General Siren: http://www.srgssr.ch/fileadmin/media/Audio%20document%20general%20alarm.mp3

Flood Siren: http://www.srgssr.ch/fileadmin/media/Audio%20document%20flood%20alarm.mp3

Well, they are Swiss sirens.  It’s part of their charm.

a sorcerer's apprentice said the earlier siren day test was just to prepare all Glocalers for next February 15 - 18 tension days whether or not we'll see the flying asteroid closer and closer and... Let's pay attention in case we have the air raid siren sound again.