Threat alert

The EE-ALARM threat alert message can be sent to the mobile phones of people in the risk area by authorities that resolve emergency situations (e.g. the Rescue Board, the police, the Health Board etc) in case there is an event that endangers life, health or national security (e.g. a bigger fire, mass unrest, dangerous food etc).

The text contains a warning and instructions for the particular threat. If you have received the EE-ALARM alert, follow the instructions in the message.

(+372) 5950 0000 is the phone number version of the Estonian threat alert EE-ALARM which is sent to the SIM cards of other countries if they are in the risk area in Estonia. It is not possible to call the number -- it is used as there is the risk that if the SMS comes from a named sender (EE-ALARM), the foreign mobile operator blocks the message as spam.

The message can be sent to the mobile phones of people in the risk area by authorities that resolve emergency situations (e.g. the Rescue Board, the police, the Health Board etc) in case there is an event that endangers life, health or national security (e.g. a bigger fire, mass unrest, dangerous food etc).

The text contains a warning and instructions of how to act in case of the particular threat. If you have received a threat alert from +372 5950 0000, follow the instructions in the message.

The message is only sent to devices with SIM cards that are in the risk area or at its border. This is largely dependent on the service provider and the telephone mast that the device is connected to. Thus it is possible that there are those among the residents of a house or a street in the risk area that do not get the message.

There is also a very small chance that the mobile operator has taken a new base station into use on the same day and the EE-ALARM system does not have its information yet. If your phone is connected to that station, you will unfortunately not get the messages even if you are in the risk area. The network information in the system is updated once in 24 hours.

The message is only sent to devices with SIM cards that are in the risk area or at its border. This is largely dependent on the service provider and the telephone mast that the device is connected to. Thus it is possible that there are those among the residents of a house or a street in the risk area that do not get the message.

There is also a very small chance that the mobile operator has taken a new base station into use on the same day and the EE-ALARM system does not have its information yet. If your phone is connected to that station, you will unfortunately not get the messages even if you are in the risk area. The network information in the system is updated once in 24 hours.

The EE-ALARM text message is sent only to the devices with SIM cards that are in the risk area or at its border. Which means that if you are not in the direct risk area, you will not be sent a message.

The specific area where people get alerted with an EE-ALARM text message is determined by the authority resolving the dangerous event based on the situation.

Once there is no longer a threat to life and health, all those in the risk area will get a new message. An end message is also sent to all those who have been notified of an emergency earlier but who have already left the area, regardless of where they are.

Operative official information is disseminated by the web page kriis.ee, the state helpline 1247 and the television, radio and online channels of the Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR). Instructions and information on how to prepare for crises can be found on the web page olevalmis.ee and from the mobile app Ole Valmis! (can be downloaded for free from Google Play and App Store).

There could be several reasons for this:

• a decision was taken that the follow-up message regarding the end of danger would not be sent out at all
• you did not receive the end message for technical or other reasons (e.g. a bad network connection, an overloaded network, the phone had been switched off or on flight more, the phone's memory was full etc.)

The initial threat alert was probably not received because of a bad network connection, an overload of the network, the phone was switched off or on flight mode.

There can be several reasons for this:

• It is possible that at the moment the message was sent out, you were outside the risk area and thus only received the message when you entered the risk area (e.g. travelled through the risk area on your way to work or back with a car). The message is only sent to devices with SIM cards that are in the specific area or at its border.
• SMS delivery is also largely dependent upon your service provider and the telephone mast that the device is connected to. It might have been that at the moment the message was sent out, your phone was connected to a mast that was not in the specific risk area.
• It could have been a technical issue. If you wish, you can send the information to 112@112.ee.

The EE_ALARM text messages are not sent based on the population register or residency information. The message goes out only to devices with SIM cards that are in the specific risk area or at its border. That is, if you were not in the area at the moment of the emergency, you were also not sent the message.

If you wish to get alerts about a certain area in the future, you should download the Ole Valmis! mobile app (free at Google Play and App Store) and choose the counties or towns that interest you. In addition to instructions on how to behave, the app will start giving out risk alerts in the near future.

The EE-ALARM messages are probably arriving because you moved through a risk area at some point or were at its border. The system is built up so that if you have received an alert message, you will definitely also receive a message that lets you know that the threat has passed, regardless of where you are (i.e. the end message will reach you even if you have already left the area).

Generally, you will receive an EE-ALARM text message because you passed through the risk area or were in the risk area (or at its border). If you received the message further away, there could be several reasons for this:

• it is possible that you passed through the risk area before the emergency and the location of your phone had not yet updated in the mobile operator's network. For instance, your phone was using the 2G/3G network, you did not make any calls or send out any messages in the meanwhile but used transport to move around -- in that case, the last known location of your phone could be two hours old.
• it is still possible that your phone was connected to a base station that was further away, in the risk area. Across a bay, for instance.
• there is a small possibility that there was an error in the network information but in that case several others near you who use the same operator should also get the message. You should definitely notify 112@112.ee of this.

There can be several reasons for this:

• it is possible that several messages with the same substance are actually sent out, due to a human error, for instance, or there are two or more risk areas active in parallel, which could partially overlap (e.g. the direction of the wind changes and an area that was initially considered to be safe needs to be alerted about the toxic smoke).
• the messaging centre of a mobile operator has to get automatic feedback from the phone that the message has been delivered. If it does not get it (e.g. there is a bad network connection, the network is temporarily overloaded etc), the operator attempts to resend the message after some time until it finally gives up or receives feedback that the delivery was successful. This is a usual process for the messaging centre. If you suspect that a technical error has occurred, please send the information to 112@112.ee.

The state ordered a comparison study of the systems where, based on different parameters (the size of the country, population etc), the decision was made in favour of the SMS-based solution, as this enables reaching more people with more certainty.

Every solution has its advantages and drawbacks. An SMS does not require prior setup or activation as practically all phones support this solution. Additionally, we can alert people who have received EE-ALARM with a text message about a change or end of the threat even if they have left the risk area in the meanwhile. It is also possible to send alerts to Estonian numbers that are outside of the country. Several other solutions (e.g. wireless emergency alert) do not allow this and there is also no feedback on how many actually received the message.

At the same time, it is not possible to prompt the phone to automatically vibrate or ring upon receiving the SMS (e.g. when the phone is set on silent mode) and the text messages do not reach all persons within seconds.

The aim of the threat alerts is to save lives. The faster we can communicate instructions on how to bahave in case of an event threatening life and health, the better the people can protect themselves and those close to them. This may become necessary in the event of major accidents, extreme weather conditions, or, for example, a military conflict.

When a person’s life, health, or national security is at risk, the state informs the endangered population as soon as possible through the EE-ALARM threat alert channels. The state always uses several risk threat alert channels. The alert is issued by the public authority dealing with the incident.

The components of the comprehensive threat alert system EE-ALARM are:

• threat area-based SMS
• mobile applications "Ole valmis!" and "Eesti äpp"
• chyrons on a red background on ETV and ETV+ channels
• notifications on the err.ee portal
• RDS text on the Vikerraadio channel
• a siren network in 22 towns.

The choice and number of threat alert channels depends on the severity and extent of the situation. In some cases, the alert is only necessary for people in a specific area, in other cases, it has to be nationwide. In extreme cases, the state can also use public address systems such as loudspeakers, drones, and door-to-door notification to inform the public of the threat.

The threat alert system is designed to ensure that people are notified as quickly and widely as possible, and also in situations where communication services may be disrupted or down.

Depending on the event and the situation, the channels offer varying degrees of effectiveness. Situations may also require different types of communication, for instance when it is necessary to issue an initial alert as quickly as possible or, conversely, to forward instructions that are as precise as possible. There is no universal channel that would allow for reaching everyone.

Yes, the "Eesti äpp" and "Ole valmis!" mobile apps have to be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

• "Eesti äpp" for Android devices is available on Google Play and, for Apple devices, on the App Store.
• "Ole valmis!" application for Android devices is available on Google Play’ and for Apple devices, on the App Store.

Users of the mobile apps can choose whether they wish to receive notifications for all of Estonia only or just in their home region. This gives people the opportunity to adjust the scope of notifications according to their preferences.

The mobile app also enables you to receive notifications even if you are in another region or even another country. We recommend reviewing the app’s permissions and settings on your phone’s settings so that notifications are noticeable as quickly as possible.

These are mobile applications with different focuses, both of which have the functionality of receiving threat alerts. We recommend downloading both applications.

• "Eesti äpp" is the Estonian national mobile application which enables users to consume various state services and view identity documents conveniently and securely from a mobile device.
• "Ole valmis!" application provides instructions for behaviour in various situations, which can be viewed even if the internet connection is interrupted. It also includes a home inventory test, useful phone numbers, cyber knowledge e-learning, etc.

You can receive location-based threat alerts in "Eesti äpp" both when logged in and when not. If you want to continue without logging in, select ‘Continue as a guest’ on the application's home screen. Threat alerts are located in the Civil Protection services block. To configure them, click on the user icon in the upper right corner of the application menu. Then select Settings, and from there, Hazard alert settings.

No, the mobile applications do not need access to your location. However, users must choose whether they want to receive alerts for all of Estonia or only for their home region. This gives people the opportunity to adjust the scope of the alerts according to their preferences.

In "Ole valmis!" app, users can now turn on location-based threat alerts – it records the user’s location with county level accuracy and once every hour, not more often. This is a good way to also receive alerts on the go.

Generally, the mobile application alert arrives within seconds.

Sending threat alert messages in the most used languages in Estonia is essential for several reasons:

• Every person has the right to understand the threat alerts, to protect their life, health, loved ones, and property. Therefore, in addition to the official language, we will also provide the threat alerts in the two most widely understood foreign languages in Estonia.
• Upon receiving an alert of an immediate threat, it is vital to act immediately, as you may only have minutes to protect yourself and those close to you. No child or elderly person should suffer, for example, because the person responsible for them does not understand the instructions quickly.
• Experience shows that when the information is in a language that the recipient does not understand, it significantly increases the workload of the 1247 state helpline and 112 emergency number, as the content needs to be translated to people. This, in turn, affects the work of the agencies providing assistance and slows down the receiving of aid.

No, the risk area based threat alert will be received by people who are in the area they requested it to be sent alerts about.

In situations that may threaten people’s lives and health or national security, the agency dealing with the emergency situation (e.g., the police, the Estonian Rescue Board, the Health Board, etc.) can send an SMS to people in the risk area, sent by EE-ALARM. If the person does not have an Estonian number, the message will be sent from +372 5950 0000.

The siren network has been installed in accordance with the project plan and is ready for use in the 22 settlements listed below. It is estimated that 65% of people in Estonia are covered by 120 siren posts.

• Haapsalu
• Jõgeva
• Jõhvi
• Keila
• Kohtla-Järve and Ahtme
• Kuressaare
• Kärdla
• Maardu
• Narva
• Paide
• Paldiski
• Pärnu
• Põlva
• Rakvere
• Rapla
• Sillamäe
• Tallinn and surrounding densely populated areas
• Tapa
• Tartu
• Valga
• Viljandi
• Võru

The sound of a single siren post reaches 1.5–2 kilometres in the siren's installation direction sector. This depends on nearby buildings, the general noise level, as well as the weather, for example. This is why we need to test the sirens and measure the sound levels in real life.

The general rule is that if the alarm is inside the building, go outside, and if the alarm is outside the building, go inside.

If you hear sirens or receive a threat alert telling you to shelter from EE-ALARM, go to the nearest indoor space immediately, close the doors, windows, and ventilation, and only then seek further information. Look for more information only when you are in a safer place: on the website www.kriis.ee or by calling the state helpline 1247, from ERR and Vikerradio, and the social media sites of public authorities. The state will communicate the need to take shelter through all threat alert and media channels.

Depending on the number of people in the notification areas, it can take up to ten minutes or more for the SMS alert to reach everyone.

Generally, SIM cards from other countries will receive the threat alert in English.

The siren sound is a minute-long rising and falling sound repeated at least three times after a 30-second interval. You can listen to the siren sound file on the olevalmis.ee website: www.olevalmis.ee/en/public-warning-system-known-as-ee-alarm.

No, as of the beginning of 2025, the first stage is completed. A small number of new locations will be added in the second half of the year, while developments in the coming years will depend on state budgeting decisions.

From April 15, 2025, SMS threat alerts will be sent to people in their preferred language. To ensure that the information you need reaches you quickly and is clearly understood in a crisis, you should check the language preference with your mobile operator. For more information, visit www.kriis.ee/uudised/ohuteavitused-jouavad-sinuni-eelistatud-keeles-kontrolli-oma-telefoni-seadistusi (in Estonian).

Previously, the risk area based alerts were often sent in three languages at once, which made the messages longer and slower to deliver.

The alerts sent to your app depend on the language choices you make in your apps.

Under normal circumstances, only devices with a SIM card in or at the border of the risk area will receive the SMS. This depends largely on the service provider and the telephone mast to which the device is connected. Therefore, it is possible that there may be some residents in a building or street in the risk area who do not receive the alert.

There is also a very small chance that a mobile operator has launched a new station on the same day, but the information is not yet in the EE-ALARM system. Unfortunately, if your phone is connected to this station, the alert will not reach you even if you are in the risk area. Network information is updated in the system once a day.