Tuesday, 28th April 2026: Civil defence exercise to trigger emergency alerts on phones across the Caen area

The drill will involve the activation of the national FR-Alert system, a tool used by French authorities to warn the public in the event of major emergencies, such as natural disasters or industrial accidents.

The alert will be broadcast to smartphones located within a defined area, including nearby towns such as Colombelles, Hérouville-Saint-Clair and Mondeville.

A loud warning signal

During the exercise, mobile devices will emit a distinctive sound accompanied by a visual notification, even if phones are set to silent mode. The message will clearly indicate that it is only a test and will provide information similar to what would be issued during a real emergency.

Authorities have stressed that no action is required from the public. Residents are specifically advised not to contact emergency services, as the exercise is purely preventative and designed to test the system’s effectiveness.

Raising awareness of emergency procedures

The purpose of the operation is to familiarise the population with the FR-Alert system so that, in the event of a genuine crisis, people will recognise the signal and respond appropriately.

Such exercises have previously been conducted in the Calvados département, both as routine tests and during real events, including severe weather incidents earlier this year. The FR-Alert system, deployed nationwide since 2022, allows authorities to send targeted warnings via mobile networks to people located in specific risk zones, ensuring rapid dissemination of safety instructions