Many countries already use cell broadcasting - Germany does not.
The system is very promising.
The interior minister is now reacting.
Berlin - After the flood disaster in Germany, the big question is: How to be better prepared next time? There is now a lot of debate about cell broadcasting. The technology makes it possible to send messages similar to SMS to all cell phones that are located within a certain radio cell. Also to those whose phone number is not known to the authorities. Data protectionists consider this technology, which is already used in many other countries, to be relatively harmless.
The technology may now come to Germany.
The President of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Aid (BBK), Armin Schuster, commissioned a feasibility study as a warning via cell broadcasting in the spring, said Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) on Wednesday.
Schuster is assuming that the result expected before the federal election on September 26th will be positive.
But there are also problems.
A catch, according to Schuster: “It's expensive.” In addition, no mobile phone provider in Germany has offered the system so far, he told the
RND
newspapers on Tuesday.
Warning SMS before floods: Seehofer names the federal election as a deadline
Christian Lindner is also an advocate, but does not want to rely on a system.
"We will sirens and loudspeakers need," the FDP leader said to
bild.de
.
In the report, Lindner was convinced that there are still legal questions “crazy”: “That has to be changed quickly.” Because it is “paradoxical” that travelers, on the other hand, are informed about the Corona rules by SMS.
A mix of analog and digital methods is necessary to warn of acute dangers, Seehofer said, in line with Lindner.
Sirens alone are not a panacea, because "it is not enough just to warn acoustically, the population also has to know what to do".
Spahn on the new emergency reserve: "Buying in an emergency is always more expensive"
The “National Health Protection Reserve” now decided by the cabinet is intended to be the first part of a comprehensive strategy for civil protection, Seehofer continued.
There are also plans for a joint federal and state competence center at the BBK, in which the Bundeswehr and aid organizations will also be involved.
Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) sees Germany better prepared for future crises with the new reserve.
Corona painfully demonstrated dependencies, he said.
"Buying in an emergency is always more expensive," said Spahn.
The reserve is intended to be used in the event of pandemics and disasters, as well as in the event that Germany has to stand by its allies.
(frs with material from dpa)
