Emergency Preparedness in Switzerland
Switzerland has more than 7,000 sirens, a shelter place for almost every resident and a long tradition of household supplies. Every year on the first Wednesday of February the whole country hears its warning signals. This page explains the system in English for residents, students, workers and visitors.
Emergency numbers
- 112 European emergency number
- 117 Police
- 118 Fire brigade
- 144 Ambulance
- 1414 Rega, air rescue
- 145 Poison information
How you will be warned
General alarm
- A regular rising and falling tone for one minute, repeated after two minutes.
- When you hear it outside the test: there may be danger. Listen to the radio, check Alertswiss, follow the authorities' instructions and inform your neighbours.
Water alarm
- Used only in areas below dams: twelve low continuous tones of 20 seconds each, with 10-second pauses.
- When you hear it: leave the endangered area immediately.
Alertswiss
- The Alertswiss app and website publish alarms, warnings and information from the federal and cantonal authorities. Install the app and choose your canton.
The annual siren test
- On the first Wednesday of February, the general alarm is tested at 13:30. The water alarm is tested near dams between 14:00 and 16:30. No action is needed during the test.
What the authorities ask you to have at home
The Federal Office for National Economic Supply recommends that every household keeps an emergency supply (Notvorrat) for about one week:
- Drinking water and food that keeps
- Medicines and hygiene items
- A battery radio, flashlight and spare batteries
- Cash and a way to cook without electricity
Its brochure "Kluger Rat – Notvorrat" includes an online calculator. See also our kit calculator and the home kit for 7 days.
Shelters
- Switzerland has a shelter place for almost everyone. Your municipality assigns them. Ask the commune if you do not know yours.
- Shelters are opened by order of the authorities. In most emergencies the instruction is to stay at home.
Main risks to prepare for
- Floods, landslides and avalanches
- Storms and heatwaves
- Power shortages and outages
- Earthquakes, above all in Valais and Basel
- Nuclear and chemical accidents
Words you will see and hear
Switzerland has four national languages. Alerts are issued in the language of your canton.
- Allgemeiner Alarm / alarme générale / allarme generale: general alarm
- Wasseralarm / alarme-eau: water alarm
- Sirenentest / test des sirènes: siren test
- Notvorrat / provisions de secours: emergency supply
- Schutzraum / abri: shelter
- Bevölkerungsschutz / protection de la population: civil protection
Official information
- Alertswiss, in English
- Federal Office for Civil Protection
- Federal Office for National Economic Supply: Notvorrat
- MeteoSwiss: weather warnings
See emergency preparedness in other European countries.
Sources
- Alertswiss: testing sirens
- Canton of Fribourg: the new federal brochure "Kluger Rat – Notvorrat" (German)
Independent educational summary, not an official publication. Always follow instructions from Swiss authorities. Last reviewed: November 2026.