Short answer. Romania uses public warning sirens with four official signals: disaster alarm, air-raid pre-alarm, air-raid alarm and all clear 1. RO-ALERT pushes warnings to every mobile phone in an affected area 34. DSU says RO-ALERT is not an early warning for earthquakes 3. The official DSU app, radio and TV carry further information 3.
What are the four siren signals?
As set by the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) 1:
| Signal | Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Alarmă la dezastre (disaster alarm) | 5 sounds of 16 seconds each, with 10-second pauses | An emergency such as floods, landslides, chemical, nuclear or radiological accidents, or falling objects is imminent |
| Prealarmă aeriană (air-raid pre-alarm) | 3 sounds of 32 seconds each, with 12-second pauses | Air attacks are likely |
| Alarmă aeriană (air-raid alarm) | 15 sounds of 4 seconds each, with 4-second pauses | Air attacks are imminent |
| Încetarea alarmei (all clear) | One continuous sound of the same intensity for 2 minutes | The danger or air attack is over |
The 2024 crisis guide covers the same signals so that families can learn them in advance 4.
What is RO-ALERT?
RO-ALERT sends warning messages to all phones in the affected area for extreme weather, floods, terrorist attacks and other dangerous situations 34. Its website is ro-alert.ro.
In March 2026 the head of DSU said that severe-level and missing-child messages now use different, less intrusive sounds than extreme alerts, on phones whose software has been updated 2.
Not for earthquakes. DSU states: "Sistemul RO-Alert nu funcționează ca avertizare timpurie în caz de cutremur" (the RO-Alert system does not work as an early warning for earthquakes) 3. Do not wait for a phone message before acting in an earthquake.
Which apps and channels are official?
- The DSU app (App Store and Google Play): the official information channel of the Department for Emergency Situations 3.
- fiipregatit.ro: DSU's preparedness site, with hazard guides 3.
- Radio and TV relay official DSU updates 35.
- Facebook: DSU and IGSU post there during emergencies 3.
What if power and the phone network fail?
Keep a battery or wind-up radio, because power, internet and phone service may fail 35. DSU puts a wind-up, solar or battery radio on its kit list. See the Romania kit checklist, the emergency radio guide and power outage.
What should I do when I hear a siren?
The meaning of each signal is in the table above 1. Know in advance where the nearest shelters are, or which underground or central spaces could serve: see public shelters in Romania. For a chemical or nuclear accident, official updates come through radio, TV and the DSU channels 35; see also chemical shelter-in-place.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the all-clear signal in Romania?
One continuous sound of the same intensity for 2 minutes 1.
What is the difference between pre-alarm and alarm?
The air-raid pre-alarm (3 sounds of 32 seconds) means air attacks are likely; the air-raid alarm (15 sounds of 4 seconds) means they are imminent 1.
Does RO-ALERT warn before an earthquake?
No. DSU says RO-Alert does not work as an early warning for earthquakes 3.
Do I need to sign up for RO-ALERT?
DSU describes RO-ALERT as sending messages to all phones in the affected area 3; no sign-up step is described.
Sources
- Inspectoratul General pentru Situații de Urgență (IGSU) — ÎNŞTIINŢAREA, AVERTIZAREA ŞI ALARMAREA POPULAŢIEI — https://igsu.ro/protectia-populatiei/instiintarea-avertizarea-si-alarmarea-populatiei-2485 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Ministerul Afacerilor Interne — Antena 1: Cum se modifică sistemul RO-Alert. Mesajele RO-Alert vor avea sunete diferite, în funcție de tipul mesajului și de gravitatea situației — https://www.mai.gov.ro/antena-1-cum-se-modifica-sistemul-ro-alert-mesajele-ro-alert-vor-avea-sunete-diferite-in-functie-de-tipul-mesajului-si-de-gravitatea-situatiei/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Departamentul pentru Situații de Urgență (fiipregatit.ro) — Surse oficiale de informare — https://fiipregatit.ro/pregateste-te/surse-oficiale-de-informare-1 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Guvernul României – Centrul Euro-Atlantic pentru Reziliență, DSU, DNSC, MApN — Ghid pentru situații de criză — https://app.dsu.mai.gov.ro/uploads/ghid_pentru_situatii_de_criza_1cf39b7021.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Departamentul pentru Situații de Urgență (fiipregatit.ro) — Accident Nuclear (ghid) — https://fiipregatit.ro/ghiduri/accident-nuclear-5 (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Romania, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Inspectoratul General pentru Situații de Urgență (IGSU) · ÎNŞTIINŢAREA, AVERTIZAREA ŞI ALARMAREA POPULAŢIEI checked 2026-10-20
- Ministerul Afacerilor Interne · Antena 1: Cum se modifică sistemul RO-Alert. Mesajele RO-Alert vor avea sunete diferite, în funcție de tipul mesajului și de gravitatea situației checked 2026-10-20
- Departamentul pentru Situații de Urgență (fiipregatit.ro) · Surse oficiale de informare checked 2026-10-20
- Guvernul României – Centrul Euro-Atlantic pentru Reziliență, DSU, DNSC, MApN · Ghid pentru situații de criză checked 2026-10-20
- Departamentul pentru Situații de Urgență (fiipregatit.ro) · Accident Nuclear (ghid) checked 2026-10-20