Once broadcast, the IT-alert messages are received by anyone in the area potentially affected by the emergency with a cell phone switched on and connected to phone cells.
Users in the affected area receive a text message with a distinctive sound differing from conventional ring tones. The text begins with the indication "IT-alert," the message's sender.
The messages vary depending on the emergency scenario.
In case of real danger from a nuclear accident, cell phones in the affected Italian territory will receive such an IT-alert message:
Civil Protection Alert DD/MM/YY at 00:00 – Alarm – Accident at the nuclear plant of XYZ (FOREIGN COUNTRY). Possible passage of the radioactive cloud. The evolution of the situation is being closely monitored. Keep up to date and follow the instructions of the authorities.
There are no operating nuclear plants in Italy. However, other countries neighboring Italy have active nuclear plants for energy production. Therefore, to deal with possible accidents beyond national borders, the National Plan for the management of radiological and nuclear emergencies was adopted, which considers three accident scenarios based on how far the event occurs from national borders.
The scenario considered by the IT-alert national public warning system is the one resulting from a nuclear accident within 200 kilometers from the Italian border, corresponding to the "ALERT" operational phase.
As there are nuclear plants for energy production in France, Switzerland, Germany, and Slovenia, located within 200 kilometers of the Italian borders, the territory potentially affected by receiving the IT-alert message are the northern and north-central areas of the country, as described in the Plan.
In case of real danger from a major accident at an industrial facility, cell phone users in the areas near the affected facilities will receive such an IT-alert message:
Civil Protection Alert DD/MM/YY at 00:00 - Accident at the XYZ industrial facility involving hazardous substances in the Municipality of XYZ (PROVINCE). FIND INDOOR SHELTER AND DO NOT GO NEAR the facility. Keep up to date and follow the instructions of the authorities.
Currently, over 900 industrial facilities in Italy use specific hazardous substances in their activities and are thus classified as being at "major accident risk," here is the updated list. An accident in such facilities can lead to a fire, explosion, or toxic cloud with immediate or delayed severe danger to human health and the environment. The industrial risk of major accidents is regulated by European legislation, which has also been established at the national and regional level following major accidents such as the Italian Seveso accident in 1976.
The IT-alert message will be sent to the cell phones of anyone within a 2 km radius of the facility, informing them of the possible danger.
In case of real danger from a large dam collapse, cell phones in the municipalities potentially affected by the flood wave will receive such an IT-alert message:
Civil Protection Alert DD/MM/YY at 00:00 - XYZ DAM COLLAPSE in the Municipality of XYZ (PROVINCE): possible flash flood. STAY AWAY FROM WATERCOURSES and reach high areas. Keep up to date and follow the instructions of the authorities.
There are currently more than 500 large dams in Italy, a list of which can be found at this link. They are structures with a height of more than 15 meters or can contain a volume of water of more than 1 million cubic meters. Of these, about 300 have an updated civil protection document.
To guarantee the safety of the dam and downstream territories, specific procedures are established that require the activation of the National Civil Protection Service. In particular, different alert phases are foreseen to signal increasing severity that may result in the flooding of downstream areas.
The most severe phase is the "collapse" phase, which is declared when there is evidence of structural damage to the dam, landslides resulting in uncontrolled water discharge, or other phenomena that can lead to a catastrophic event, with loss of life or significant damage.
The IT-alert message is sent to notify the population of municipalities located downstream of a dam about the potential occurrence of a flash flood and currently only applies to large dams with updated civil protection documents.
In case of potential imminent eruptive activity in the areas of the Phlegraean Fields, Vesuvius, and the island of Vulcano, these kind of IT-alert messages will be sent:
Civil Protection Alert DD/MM/YY at 00:00 – Possible volcanic activity at the Phlegraean Fields/Vesuvius. ONLY FOR THE RED ZONE: START EVACUATING. Keep up to date and follow the instructions of the authorities.
Civil Protection Alert DD/MM/YY at 00:00 – Possible volcanic activity at Vulcano. START EVACUATING: Reach the waiting area provided in the Civil Protection Plan. Keep up to date and follow the instructions of the authorities.
IT-alert is exclusively used in case of activation of the operational phase of "alarm." The Department of Civil Protection activates this phase in collaboration with the Campania and Sicilian Regions. It is foreseen for Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields in the National Indications and for Vulcano in the relevant National Civil Protection Plan.
IT-alert is not planned to be used for other phenomena such as, for example, bradyseism and fumarolic activity.
The IT-alert message is sent for the Phlegraean Fields and Vesuvius to all municipalities in the Campania Region, for Vulcano, on the island of Vulcano.