Important Public Announcements

Important public announcement is used when:

• There is a danger to life, health, or extensive damage to property or the environment.
• The public needs to be informed to prevent or limit danger or damage. This can be, for example, in the event of a gas leak, a fire that produces harmful smoke, or a risk of explosion.
• The warning and information system needs to be used to issue preparedness alarms and air raid warnings if the country goes to war.

The public can be alerted to Important Public Announcements (VMA) in several ways

• Through the outdoor VMA siren, also called ‘Hesa Fredrik’
• Via all Swedish Radio channels, commercial radio and TV channels (e.g. SVT, teletext and TV4)
• Via a text message to your mobile phone if it is used in the affected area
• Via the SOS Alarm 112 app. 
• From krisinformation.se and their app and social media
• As a notification in the Swedish Radio app SR Play
• In some cases, through a voice message to landline phones in the affected area

How to act in case of a VMA

When you hear the signal or receive the warning by phone, you should

• Follow the instructions carefully
• Go indoors
• Close doors, windows and if possible ventilation
• Listen to Swedish Radio P4 for more information.

SVT’s teletext page 100 indicates when a VMA situation is in progress and refers for more information to teletext page 599 where the same message that is read on the radio is published in writing.

For information during a VMA, do not call the emergency number 112

Call the information number 113 13, listen to the emergency channel Swedish Radio P4 or follow information on www.krisinformation.se/en.

What the different signals sound like

The outdoor warning system has four different types of signals:

VMA, Important Public Announcement

Important Public Announcements have seven-second sound bursts with a 14-second pause in between and is repeated six times.

Air raid alarm

Air raid alarms are two-second bursts with a two second pause in between that are repeated for one minute.

Preparedness alarm

Preparedness alarms are 30-second signals with a 15-second pause in between, repeated six times. That is, it lasts for 4 minutes and 15 seconds.

The all-clear signal

The all-clear signal is an uninterrupted  30-second sound burst signalling that the danger is over.

Note that not everything is necessarily an outdoor warning. Train horns are examples of sounds that can be mistaken for a VMA. However, the signals used specifically for a VMA are always one of the above.

Testing the VMA and all-clear signals

The Important Public Announcement and all-clear signals are tested four times a year. The test is carried out at 15:00 on the first Monday in March, June, September and December. During the test, information is also given on Swedish Radio. The test is not conducted via SMS.

Frequently asked questions about VMA

• How many people can hear the important message signal?

  Approximately 50 per cent of the Swedish population live within audible distance of a transmitter so that they can hear the signal if they are outdoors.

• I didn’t hear the last Important Public Announcement test, what should I do?

  If you usually hear the signal but did not hear it during the test that takes place every four months, you should contact your municipal rescue services. They are responsible for operating, maintaining and testing the system. Note that this is an outdoor warning system. You may not hear the signal if you are indoors.

• Are VMAs sent out as text messages?

  Yes. The message in the text message is the same as the one read out on the radio and shown on TV. You do not need to register anywhere to receive these text messages. 

• I did not receive an SMS during a VMA?

  Various conditions may cause the SMS not to reach you. For example, it could be that your mobile operator does not have coverage in the area or that you are connected to a mobile mast outside the area.

Extended warning system around nuclear power plants

Around nuclear power plants, the public is warned both outdoors and indoors. Outdoors, the same system is used as for other outdoor warnings. Indoors, the RDS system is used via special radio receivers dedicated to warning messages. The RDS system is tested on the same days as the quarterly VMA test, at 19.00 in the evening. Information to the public regarding nuclear warnings is the responsibility of the County Administrative Boards in Halland, Kalmar and Uppsala.

Warning via SMS and voice message

SOS Alarm is responsible for the operation and maintenance of a technical platform for warning the population via text message to mobile phones and in some cases via voice message to landlines.

By sending out text messages, most mobile phones located in the affected area are reached. However, different conditions may affect who is reached, such as the coverage of your mobile operator’s cells in the affected area, or whether you have just entered the area but may still be connected to a mobile phone mast outside it. The system can verify how many people have received the message.

The system includes a geofencing function. This means that as long as the VMA is still valid, anyone who enters the affected area will receive a VMA text message. Everyone who has received a VMA text message will then receive a text message once the dangerous situation is over.

There is also a function for sending voice messages to landline phones. However, this is used exceptionally as the number of landlines is very low and declining, and the capacity for sending messages is low compared to SMS.

Information in case of a VMA

The VMA message is read out on all Swedish Radio channels. When the local P4 channel is broadcasting, they normally follow up the event and can provide further information during the event. SR P4 is Sweden’s emergency channel.

Through the information number 113 13, which SOS Alarm is responsible for, the public should be able to receive verified information from actors in the crisis management system. In the event of a VMA, 113 13 can confirm that one has been issued and the cause. Municipalities, county administrative boards, regions or government agencies, individually or jointly, should be able to use the service to warn the public, provide supplementary information and respond to questions from the public with answers about the further development of the event.

Krisinformation.se is the government agencies joint website for crisis information. In the event of a VMA, it is published there and sent out in their app. Read more at http://www.krisinformation.se/en

Want to know more?

Visit the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)