Alert to population, from September the new IT-alert tests

In September 2023, the IT-alert tests will resume, the national system that allows warning messages to be sent to the population in the event of serious emergencies or imminent or ongoing disasters.

IT-alert, launched by the Civil Protection Department and currently in the testing phase, promotes timely information to people potentially involved, with the aim of minimizing individual and collective exposure to danger.

The system uses cellular networks to reach all mobile devices in a specific geographical area, without the need to download any app or register for a service.

The next tests are scheduled for 12 September in Campania, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Marche. This will be followed by Piemonte, Puglia and Umbria (September 14), Basilicata, Lombardia and Molise (September 19), Lazio, Valle d'Aosta and Veneto (September 21), Abruzzo, Liguria and the Autonomous Province of Trento (September 26) and the Autonomous Province of Bolzano (October 13).

Around 12 noon, a test message will arrive on the mobile phones, switched on and with a telephone connection, of those who will be in the area involved, thanks to which it will be possible to improve the system and its diffusion among citizens, verify its functioning in relation to the different types of telephone and operating systems and collect information from users, through a questionnaire.

With the test of 10 July 2023, in Emilia-Romagna, a first phase of IT-alert experimentation was closed, which had also seen the involvement of Toscana, Sardegna, Sicilia and Calabria.

Last November, ISIN participated in the national civil protection exercise "Sisma dello Strait 2022", during which the occurrence of a magnitude 6 earthquake with its epicenter in the province of Reggio Calabria was simulated.

The Inspectorate technicians had contributed to testing IT-alert by providing information regarding the presence of radioactive sources in the territories involved.

To find all the useful information, a dedicated website is available: https://www.it-alert.it/it/