Abstract. In France, sirens have been the principal tool designated to alert the population in the case of danger. However, their efficacity has not been objectively tested. Using a geographical information system, questionnaires, and surveys, we analyzed (1) the spatial distribution of the siren network in relation to the covered population, the hazards threatening different areas, and the actual number of disasters that have occurred in the past, (2) the political dilemma of activating sirens, and (3) the population's trust in sirens, as well as its understanding of expected behavior in the case of an emergency. Results show that, with a few exceptions, siren coverage in France is primarily determined by population density, not by the expected hazards or the cumulative number of past disasters. Sirens are also rarely used by the authorities. However, surveyed members of the population identify sirens as the most effective alert system over other alternatives such as cell-phone-based alerting tools. In a “mock” emergency most members of the public did not know how to respond in the case of an emergency, and even most of those who correctly identified the appropriate response prior to the exercise did not react upon later hearing the siren. To improve the effectiveness of the French siren network, we recommend (1) relocating sirens to optimize their efficiency, (2) complementing the sound of sirens with a clear and unified message, (3) reorganizing the competencies to activate siren alerts, and finally (4) improving public education on different alert tools and expected behavior during an emergency.
This study experiments a method for estimating and mapping the alerting potential of two Location-Based Alerting Solutions (LBAS): messaging techniques (cell broadcast, CBC, or location-based SMS, LB-SMS) and the smartphone push notification. Experiments have been evaluated over metropolitan France, a heterogeneously populated and risky area, considering that individuals are located at home. The rate of alertable individuals, calculated at the municipal level, show very strong potential of CBC/LB-SMS. 94.21% of individuals can be alertable using CBC/LB-SMS and 74.15% using the smartphone push notification. There is a very strong homogeneity in the performance of LBAS at the national level, but also local weaknesses exist. Mapping this potential of performance contributes to the discussion about the use of LBAS in France and paves the way for a broader assessment of the effectiveness of alerting solutions in order to propose a multi-channel system that will consider the territorial characteristics.
Depuis 1954, sous couvert d'une défense passive post-Seconde Guerre Mondiale, et pour pallier les défaillances d'utilisation des tocsins des églises pendant les inondations de 1930, l'État a déployé en France le RNA (Réseau National d'Alerte), composé essentiellement de sirènes. Le signal associé était destiné à interrompre toutes les activités sociales, et il était censé induire un comportement « approprié » de la part des autorités et des habitants concernés pour face à un danger, quelle qu'en soit la nature. Mais au fil des années, le RNA est devenu désuet et vieillissant et dans la majorité des cas, l'hésitation et les incertitudes sur les évolutions attendues des aléas en cours conduisent plus les autorités à une inaction plus qu'à une réelle réactivité. Pour autant, les sirènes restent l'outil prioritaire en France, et le nouveau système SAIP (Système d'Alerte et d'Information de la Population), dont l'opérationnalité est attendue pour 2022, conforte la priorité actée par les gouvernements à un tel vecteur. Cet article a alors pour but d'évaluer la pertinence de ce choix, éminemment politique, notamment pour l'alerte à la population en cas de crues rapides. Après avoir rappelé le contexte institutionnel, les avantages et limites de l'alerte par sirènes, nous avons mesuré la pertinence du réseau actuel dans le Vaucluse, en montrant notamment l'inadéquation de la localisation des sirènes par rapport aux zones à risque, et plusieurs axes d'amélioration des systèmes d'alerte sont proposés, en mesurant notamment les bénéfices à attendre d'une relocation des sirènes.
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