IT-alert, tests on specific risks continue in three Regions
The sending of the test message is scheduled for January 30 and 31 and February 6. The interested Regions are Liguria, Marche and Lazio. Last update: January 30, 2024
On January 30 and 31 and then on February 6, three tests of the IT-alert national public warning system will be conducted in the Regions of Liguria, Marche, and Lazio on major accidents at industrial facilities and the collapse of large dams.
For major accident at industrial facilities subject to the Seveso Directive, the notification text reads 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 collapse of large dams, the notification text 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 testing, from the website's homepage, there will be access to a dedicated page where it will be possible to view the text of the message that would arrive in case of real danger and the link to the survey that citizens in the involved territories are invited to fill out, also in case they don't receive any notification.
The notification will arrive on the switched-on and connected cell phones of those in the target areas according to the following schedule:
January 30, 12 p.m.
Major accident at industrial facilities
▪ Liguria Region - IPLOM, Busalla, Mignanego, Ronco Scrivia e Savignone (GE)
January 31, 12 p.m.
Collapse of large dams
▪ Marche Region - Rio Canale Dam – Massignano (AP), Campofilone (FM)
February 6, 12 p.m
Collapse of large dams
▪ Lazio Region - Collemezzo Dam – Ceprano, Arce, San Giovanni Incarico (FR)
Test dates may be subject to change if regional civil protection systems are involved in activities for any ongoing meteo-hydro alerts or emergencies.
As part of the testing activities of the IT-alert system, a series of technical-functional tests will be performed on January 31, February 1, and 2 - from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. - affecting 913 limited areas within a 2 km radius throughout Italy with industrial facilities at risk of major accidents.
The technical-functional test ensures that devices in the affected areas do not receive the message. However, it is possible, even if very unlikely, that the message will reach some older generation devices.
The notification text will read:
TEST TEST technical-functional test of the IT-alert system TEST TEST.
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.
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.
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.