Keep cool and pay attention as Russia tests a public warning system.
October 4, Moscow (Reuters) – On Wednesday, Russia conducted a nationwide test of its emergency public warning systems, activating sirens and stopping some radio and television programming to advise the populace to remain calm.
The test was first carried out in 2020 as part of a new effort that mandates testing be carried out twice a year beginning on September 1 by the authorities.
However, it does so in the midst of the Ukrainian war, which has caused the biggest crisis in Russia’s ties with the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
Sirens began to sound in several regions of Russia at roughly 10:40 a.m. Moscow time (0740 GMT), and loud instructions commanded, “Attention everyone!”
Speakers said in a harsh male Russian voice, “Please remain calm as the readiness of warning systems is being checked.”
The Ministry of Emergency Situations issued a statement saying, “When you hear the sound of a siren, you need to remain calm and not panic, turn on the TV – any publicly accessible channel or radio – and listen to the information message.”
“The warning system is designed to timely convey a signal to the population in the event of a threat or emergency of a natural or man-made nature.”
On Wednesday, American mobile phones, TV, and radio stations participated in a widespread test of the country’s public warning systems.
According to a press release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, the goal of the US test is to make sure the systems “continue to be effective in alerting the public to emergencies, particularly at the national level”.
