Do you remember that loud and decidedly anomalous sound that, regardless of the region you were in, your smartphone emitted in the second part of 2023?
It was the national public warning system IT-alert, of the Civil Protection. Well, in the next few days new tests (this time on specific risks) of the system will concern 12 Italian regions. Let’s see the calendar of the new IT-alert tests, but not before remembering what it is.
Cos’è IT-alert
IT-alert is the new public alert system managed by the Civil Protection.
Once operational, it will spread alarm messages to all mobile phones of people potentially involved in serious emergencies, “with the aim of encouraging the adoption of self-protection measures in relation to the specific type of risk and the reference context.”
The alarm message is broadcast through “a sound that is easily recognizable and different from classic ringtones.”
IT-alert: new tests on specific risks from 22 to 26 January
The announcement was published on the official page of the service on Thursday 18 January.
From 22 to 26 January, 12 of our regions will be involved in the new IT-alert tests on specific risks. And this is new, because during 2023, at various stages, the test message we received concerned generic risks.
In reality, the first specific alarm tests had already been carried out between 19 and 20 December 2023 in Puglia, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Sardinia. And they involved two categories of disasters: the collapse of a large dam and a major industrial accident.
The first test in 2024 will concern these two categories to which a third is added, the risk of a nuclear accident beyond national borders.
Here is the map of the new IT-alert tests from January 22nd to 26th, divided by region and risk category.
IT-alert: the calendar of new tests
January 22 at 12, test due to nuclear accident
Piedmont, Turin and province
January 23rd at 2.30pm, simulation of the collapse of a large dam
Tuscany, TOSCOCHIMICA plant, municipalities involved: Prato (PO) and Campi Bisenzio (FI).
January 24 at 12, testing for a major industrial accident
Calabria, BUTANGAS plant, Municipalities involved: Montalto Uffugo, Rende, Rose and Luzzi (CS).
Campania, GAROLLA plant, Municipality involved: Naples.
Emilia-Romagna, SCAM plant, Municipality involved: Modena.
Sardinia, FIAMMA 2000 plant, Municipalities involved: Serramanna and Villasor (SU).
January 25 at 12 test for major industrial accident
Basilicata, ENI plant, municipalities involved: Viggiano and Grumento Nova (PZ)
Friuli Venezia Giulia, RIR-GALA Logistics plant, Municipalities involved: Visco, Aiello del Friuli, Palmanova, San Vito al Torre (UD).
January 25th at 12, alarm for the collapse of a large dam
Campania, Presenzano Dam. Municipalities involved: Presenzano, Vairano Patenora, Pratella, Ailano, Raviscanina, Pietravairano, Sant’Angelo d’Alife, Baia e Latina, Alife, Dragoni, Alvignano, Gioia Sannitica, Ruviano, Castel Campagnano, Caiazzo, Piana di Monte Verna, Castel Morrone , Pontelatone, Bellona and Capua (CE); Faicchio, Puglianello, Amorosi, Melizzano, Dugenta and Limatola (BN).
Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Monguelfo Dam. Municipalities affected: Valdaora/Olang, Rasun Anterselva/Rasen Antholz, Perca/Percha, Brunico/Bruneck, San Lorenzo di Sebato/St. Lorenzen, Chienes/Kiens (BZ).
January 26th at 12pm, simulation of a major industrial accident
Abruzzo, SODIFA LPG plant, Municipality involved: L’Aquila
January 26 at 12, alarm for the collapse of a large dam
Sicily, Ancipa Dam. Municipalities involved: Troina and Centuripe (EN), Cesarò and San Teodoro (ME), Catania, Bronte, Randazzo, Adrano, Biancavilla, Paternò, Belpasso and Motta Sant’Anastasia (CT).
Valle D’Aosta, Beauregard dam. Municipalities involved: Valgrisenche, Arvier, Villeneuve (AO).
Who will receive the message
The specific risk test message will arrive on the switched-on cell phones and with a telephone connection of anyone in the areas selected by the Civil Protection.
On the official website we read that “the dates of the tests could be subject to variations in the event that the regional civil protection systems find themselves engaged in activities for any weather-hydro alerts in place or for emergency situations.”
From testing to full operation
On the page dedicated to the new IT-alert tests you can also read the texts that will appear on smartphones depending on the catastrophe category.
“On the days of the tests, from the site’s homepage you will access a dedicated page where it will be possible to view the text of the message that citizens would receive in the event of real danger for that specific risk and the information on the specific case.
On the homepage there will also be a link to the questionnaire which, as with the previous tests, all those who are in the territories involved will be invited to fill out to help implement the system.”
The Civil Protection also announced that IT-alert will be fully operational starting from February.
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