Residents of major cities are used to it: every first Wednesday of the month, between 11:45 and midday, depending on the city, an alarm sounds for a few seconds. These are the monthly tests of the SAIP (Système d'Alert et d'Information des Populations) alert and information system, a system for rapidly warning citizens in the event of a military attack, natural disaster or other civil security problem.
The French Ministry of the Interior website offers us a little history lesson: " In France, since the Second World War, sirens have gradually replaced the tocsin (the ringing of bells). From 1948 onwards, the Réseau national d'alerte (RNA), a network of sirens located mainly along land borders, fulfilled the function of alerting populations. Inherited from passive defense, i.e. the protection of populations in the event of war, it was initially designed as a response tool to the airborne threat. "
After the Cold War, these sirens were installed throughout France. This warning network is managed by the FrenchAir Force, but it is not only of military interest: it is also used to warn people in the event of natural disasters such as tsunamis. It is used " to warn the population of a civil-security disaster of natural or technological origin." In September 2019, it had notably been switched on due to a major fire at the Lubrizol plant in Rouen, Le Parisien reminds us.
Depending on the threat, this signal changes. For example, in the event of a hydraulic structure rupture, the alarm siren " comprises a cycle lasting a minimum of 2 minutes, made up of two-second sound emissions separated by an interval of three seconds."
Every month, during drills to ensure that the equipment is working properly, this siren sounds for one minute and 41 seconds. In the event of a real threat, this signal is repeated three times. If this situation arises, the French Ministry of the Interior recommends taking shelter in an enclosed space, blocking openings and vents, and staying away from windows. Then listen to the radio for further instructions from the government.
A Sécurité Civile video summarizes everything you need to know about SAIP:
