IT-alert, new tests on specific risks in two regions

notizia19 giugno 2024

IT-alert, new tests on specific risks in two regions

From June 25 to July 3, a series of tests will take place to improve the response to major accidents at industrial facilities and collapse of large dams in Lombardia and Friuli-Venezia Giulia (last update June 20, 2024 at 3.30 p.m.)

IT-alert logo generica - formato evidenza

From June 25 to 27 and then on July 3, 2024, tests of the IT-alert public warning system will be performed in the regions of Lombardia and Friuli-Venezia Giulia on major accidents at industrial facilities and collapse of large dams risks.

These risks have been operational since February 13, 2024. However, periodic testing is still required to optimize its effectiveness. These tests are essential to improve the technology in use, maintain attention to the related risks, and raise awareness among the population.

If users receive an IT-alert message with the word "TEST," it means that a verification of the system's functionality is in progress. This is necessary to ensure that messages will be sent from the phone cells and received by the devices in the target areas during a real emergency.

For the scenario of major accidents at industrial facilities, the notification text that the affected population will receive will read as follows:

TEST TEST IT-alert test message. There is an ongoing SIMULATION of an accident in an industrial facility in the area where you are. To learn what message you will receive in case of real danger, go to www.it-alert.gov.it/en TEST TEST 

For the collapse of large dams scenario, the notification test will read as follows:

TEST TEST IT-alert test message. There is an ongoing SIMULATION of a dam collapse in the area where you are. To learn what message you will receive in case of real danger, go to www.it-alert.gov.it/en TEST TEST

During the days of the tests, citizens will be able to access a dedicated page from the website's homepage. This page will contain the text of the message that will be sent in case of a real danger, along with a link to a survey. Citizens in the affected areas are encouraged to fill out the survey, even if they do not receive any notification.

The notification will arrive on the switched-on and connected cell phones located in the target areas according to the following schedule: 

June 25, 2024
Lombardia Region – MAJOR ACCIDENT AT INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES

9 a.m. - A2A AMBIENTE S.P.A., Corteolona (PV)
10 a.m. - ENI S.P.A., Sannazzaro de Burgondi (PV)
11 a.m. - SICOR S.R.L., Villanterio (PV)
12 p.m. - Innocenti Depositi, Lodi

June 26, 2024
Friuli-Venezia-Giulia Region – DAM COLLAPSE

12 p.m. - Tul Dam, PN
Autonomous Province of Trento – MAJOR ACCIDENT AT INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES (postponed to a future date)
FIRMIN SPA, Trento

June 27, 2024
Lombardia Region – MAJOR ACCIDENT AT INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES

9 a.m. - Mariani s.r.l., Lodi
10 a.m. - Autotrasporti Corsini, Tavazzano con Villavesco (LO)
11 a.m. - Nord Chemical Products, Guardamiglio (LO)
12 p.m. - Number 1 Logictics, Secugnago (LO)

July 3, 2024
Lombardia Region – MAJOR ACCIDENT AT INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES

9 a.m. - Italmach Chemical Spa, Arese (MI)
10 a.m. - Industriale Ese Srl, Arluno (MI)
11 a.m. - Olon Spa, Rodano (MI)
12 p.m. - RAINOLDI S.R.L., Levate (BG)

Major accident means an event such as a significant emission, fire, or explosion due to uncontrolled developments occurring during the operation of an industrial establishment classified as a major-accident hazard by Legislative Decree No. 105 of June 26, 2015 - Implementation of Directive 2012/18/UE of the European Parliament and of the Council on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances, and which results in an immediate or delayed major hazard for human health and the environment, either inside or outside the facility, and in which one or more hazardous substances are involved.

Each industrial facility must have an External emergency plan (EEP) containing damage mitigation measures outside the facility and an Internal Emergency Plan (IEP), including damage mitigation measures inside the facility.

IT-alert would be activated for possible accident scenarios affecting the facility.

mockup messaggio rischio diga - evidenza

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 (E04). Keep up to date and follow the instructions of the authorities.
 
However, there may be devices present in areas affected by the emergency that will not receive the message. This is caused by one of the limits of cell-broadcast technology: the impossibility of perfectly overlaying the area potentially affected by the emergency with the area covered by the antennas of the telephone operators used to send the messages.

"Collapse of a large dam" refers to the collapse of the dam structure itself or the occurrence of damages to the dam or landslides that lead to the uncontrolled release of water, such as to reasonably assume the occurrence of a catastrophic event, which generally causes a flood wave and the subsequent flooding of downstream areas. Large dams are regulated by the Directive of the President of the Council of Ministers of July 8, 2014, on "Operational guidelines concerning civil protection activities within basins where large dams are present."

When a risk related to the structural strength of a large dam occurs, it is referred to as "dam risk," which entails four alert phases (pre-alert, reinforced alert, danger, and collapse). 

Each dam is required to have a Civil Protection Document (DP), which defines the specific conditions for the activation of the civil protection system, communications, and technical-administrative procedures to be implemented in case of risk, and a Dam Emergency Plan (DEP), which outlines the areas potentially affected by the flood wave, operational strategies, and the intervention model to face the emergency.

IT-alert would be activated in case of collapse of a large dam, that is, a retaining structure exceeding 15 meters in height or resulting in a reservoir volume exceeding 1,000,000 cubic meters.

messaggio reale incidente rilevante - evidenza

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.
 
However, there may be devices present in areas affected by the emergency that will not receive the message. This is caused by one of the limits of cell-broadcast technology: the impossibility of perfectly overlaying the area potentially affected by the emergency with the area covered by the antennas of the telephone operators used to send the messages.