Alex Alerting Service
The Online Home of the Alex Alerting Service.
From Alex
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Latest Updates
Nothing to report
Past events are here. Trip down memory lane anyone?
Current Status - C0 - All's well
All is clear at the moment
Categorisation System
Category 0 - No Warnings
The first of the 6 categories is literally nothing. It's a regular day and not something to write home about. This is the default stste for the AAS. Category 0 may come with an advisory, however if this is the case there is a 90% chance it will move to Category 1
Category 1 - Low Cautionary
The Second Category of warnings is triggered by minor environmental factors that may warrant attention, but generally are not a risk to life or property.
This is triggered when any of the following conditions are met
Met Éireann: Yellow Weather Warning
Wind: Up to 40km/h sustained for more than 1 hour or is expected to reach this level
Temperature: Outside the range -4ºC to 18ºC
Heavy Rain: up to 15mm/3hr
Solar Storms: G3 Level - non threatening to electrics
Earthquakes: Up to a magnitude 2 on the Richter scale
Meteorites: Any rock tumbling to earth no larger than the one that fell in Chelyabinsk, Russia.
Other: May also cover general cautionary advice relating to civil unrest, military action, ground conditions or any other event like a parade celebratory event and similar activities. C1 is not always bad.
Observe regular precautionary measures while out and about. The chances that any of these listed conditions would affect you are extremely rare. However, some people may be pre-disposed to the affects of these.
Category 2 - High Cautionary
The 3rd category covers anything from the previous plus carries a warning and /or advice. Please follow this advice as your safety may rely on it.
Conditions covered are everything from C1+
Met Éireann: Orange Warning
Wind Gusts: Exceeding 50km/h
Rainfall: Exceeding 20mm/3hr (Massive Flood Risk)
Solar Storms: Up to a G4 solar storm, Will potentially erase devices, damage power grids
Tsunami: Up to 1 meter high.
Temperature: outside the range of -10ºC to 23ºC, considered harmful to life.
in Category 2, Tornadoes have to possibility of spawning, which can bring extreme conditions depending on their strength. Civil Unrest is also covered in this category and any purturbance beyond a fully peaceful protest will instantly triger a Category 2 warning. Stay vigalent and observe the recommendations of the AAS
Category 3 - Major Alert
The 4th category of warnings covers more severe circumstances. As well as everything from 1 and 2, Category 3 is triggered when the following conditions are met.
Met Éireann: Red Warning
Wind: Wind Gusts in excess of 120kmh
Temperatures: Outside the range of -15ºC to 32ºC
Tsunami: In excess of 6 meters
Rainfall: Torrential over 24mm/3hr
Civil Unrest: Low scale rioting or looting, and high police presence. May also be isolated pockets of violence.
Military Actions: Possible military border conflicts.
Follow all orders issued by the AAS
Category 4 - Critical Alert
The 5th category covers all issues within C1, 2 & 3 and
Weather: Severe storms, flooding or other events that will cause damage. Wind gusts over 130kmh and rain over 25mm/3hr
Temperature: Extreme heat exceeding 40ºC, this is incompatible with life or cold under -20ºC
Civil: Terrorist Threats and/or Rioting, looting, vandalism and direct conflict with riot police or military
Military: Confirmed incursion across the borders of Ireland, active fighting
Follow prescribed evacuation routes. Rioting has the possibility to continue for days, or restart unexpectedly. Follow ALL orders from the AAS.
Category 5 - Extreme Threat Alert
The 6th Category is the final one. It can only be triggered by an event that has the possibility to cause an extinction event. Follow all orders issued, download all communication resources provided.
War: Nuclear warfare or other non-conventional warfare within or outside of Ireland that can result in extreme loss of life.
Geology: Super-volcanoes have the high possibility of instantly triggering a category 5 alert
Space: An inbound asteroid of 100m in diameter or more comprised of harder substances at a minimum distance of 2,500km from Ireland
Pathogens: Any manufactured or natural pathogen: Bacterial, Viral, Prionic, Fungal or Parasitic released by natural process, human negligence or deliberately, that can result in a pandemic level event and if uncontrolled can result in massive death or extinction.
Advisory
This is not a warning, it is a depreciated warning just advising people about the potential for severe conditions. Treat it like it's a warning, but in a more relaxed approach. An advisory can still be damaging given the circumstances surrounding it and local conditions can qualify this as a fully fledged warning, but overall, this would be like taking the issued warning and going back a bit to something a little less severe.
Warning
A warning is a warning. There are no 2 ways to look at it. This is with 100% certainty unlike an Advisory, where were not certain. As a result anything carrying a warning for example a Category 3 (Major Alert) Warning is considerably more serious than a Category 3 (Major Alert) Advisory due to it being 100% assured, and not guessed.
What is Monitored
Weather
The Alex Alerting Service monitors weather events that may impact the Republic of Ireland. I am unable to monitor tornadoes, however I can see wind and rain or other storms and I am able to map them fairly accurately and issue a warning on them if they pose a risk.
Civil Unrest
The Alex Alerting Service periodically tests the waters in Ireland for civil unrest or disturbance. I am not always aware of everything as it happens live, but I do try my best to check in on social media feeds, news feeds, live cameras and other sources to make sure that I know or see what's possibly around the corner or if something is brewing. It is however, difficult due to human nature being unpredictable in some situations. While I will try my best to give advice and to be clear and consise, there is always a chance that I might get something wrong. Generally, I will advise to avoid an entire area if I am unsure.
Geological
The Alex Alerting Service Earthquakes, Tsunami's and Volcanoes! I am watching Europe and the world at all times, and if something close enough, or large enough to Ireland happens, you will be warned immediately. It is not possible to predict or warn about an earthquake, so you will have to use your best understandings on how to handle this or go to the advice page to learn more.
Solar and Space
The Alex Alerting Service Comets, Meteors, Solar Storms, Planetary Allignments... Anything that happens in space, if it can be observed coming at us, you will know about it.
Military
The Alex Alerting Service does not monitor the Military, however I do monitor the news. I check multiple sources all over the globe to see if there is anything that could affect us brewing. The Irish Defence Forces are shockingly capable of protecting Ireland, despite what people think, we also have military alliances with other nations to also ensure our safety. If something big happens, you will be notified.
Biologial
Pathogens like viruses, bacteria, prions, fungi and parasites come under this category. Pathogen is anything in the microscopic world that can harm humans or even kill humans. The common cold is a pathogen, however our bodies have such an immune system repertoire that our bodies usually fight this off easily.
Useful Apps - Android
Download the Met Éireann app from here and turn on notifications for warnings for your area.
Used for peer-to-peer communications without the need for phone service or internet/wifi
Can be used to make a public broadcast message to all users in the area around you.
Useful Apps - iOS
The Official App from Met Éireann on the Apple App Store
Briar is not available to iOS users as it violates Apples monetisation policy
Offline messaging service for phone to phone communication without an internet connection