According to fire department manager Arne Sicks, the professional fire department also uses new options such as the Nina warning app and traditional radio, television and loudspeaker announcements to alert the public. However, especially at night, people can be reached much more quickly by a siren signal than via the aforementioned information options. Since the 1990s, Sicks explained, scientific institutes have been researching how the old "siren" alarm system could be replaced by new technologies, but none of the ideas developed as part of this research have yet been developed to the point where they are ready for practical use.

This type of alarm is also preferable to the new technologies for other reasons, as its tone sequences have been well known since the Second World War. A continuous tone lasting a total of one minute, which is interrupted twice, means "fire alarm", a one-minute rising and falling wailing tone means "warning of the population" and the all-clear is indicated by a one-minute continuous tone.

If you hear the "Warning to the population" signal, you should go to the nearest building, close windows and doors, switch off ventilation and air conditioning systems, turn on the radio or TV or use the Nina warning app or the website warnung.bund.de to find out about the current situation.