Emergency warnings

Emergency warnings are an effective way to alert a large section of the public in as short a time as possible.

Emergency warnings can be issued when the public faces threats to life or health or when property is at risk of destruction or significant damage. An all-clear may be given when the danger has passed.

Emergency warnings can be issued by

  • rescue authorities
  • police
  • border guard authorities
  • Emergency Response Centre Administration
  • Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority
  • Finnish Meteorological Institute
  • The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency FTIA
  • The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom
  • The Finnish Food Authority
  • National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira
  • Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea
  • all ministries
  • State Department of Åland

Warnings broadcast on radio in Finnish and Swedish

Emergency warnings are always broadcast on the radio channels of the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) and on all commercial radio channels operating under a long-term licence.

The authority issuing a warning can decide whether the warning should also be broadcast on television. On TV, emergency warnings are broadcast

  • on the YLE channels YLE1, YLE2, YLE Teema and YLE Fem, and
  • on the commercial channels MTV3, Nelonen and Sub.

The Finnish Broadcasting Company also issues emergency warnings via its website and teletext service.

Warnings are always issued in Finnish and Swedish. If the danger or its consequences impact the Saami homeland, the warning must also be given in Saami.