Understanding Code Green, Yellow, Orange, Red: Weather Warnings Explained

2023-11-01 13:51:04

Code green, yellow, orange, red…what does that mean?

When the criteria are met, IRM issues general warnings several times a day for hazardous phenomena related to wind, rain, thunderstorms, slippery conditions, fog, tides, cold and heat. These warnings are issued by Belgian province, for a specific period of validity. They meet the following principles:

Green code: nothing special

> The type of weather forecast does not justify issuing a warning.

Code yellow: be vigilant

> The yellow code can be issued a maximum of 48 hours (and sometimes less depending on uncertainty) before the meteorological phenomenon. The risk of meeting the criteria is more than 65%.

Code orange: be prepared and follow the advice

> Code orange can be issued a maximum of 24 hours (and sometimes less depending on uncertainty) before the meteorological phenomenon. The risk of meeting the criteria is more than 65%. Be prepared and follow the advice given by the relevant authorities.

Code red: take action and follow advice carefully

> The code red can be issued a maximum of 12 hours (and sometimes less depending on uncertainty) before the meteorological phenomenon. The risk of meeting the criteria is more than 65%. Take measures to ensure your safety and that of others, and, if possible, protect your personal property. Strictly follow the advice of the competent authorities.

When do we activate 1722?

Sending a request using the electronic counter 1722.be is the most direct way to request help from the firefighters in situations where no lives are in danger. But you can also call 1722.

A request submitted electronically via 1722.be will be transmitted directly to the firefighters. If you call 1722, it is first the operators of the 112 emergency centers who handle calls to this number before transmitting the request to the firefighters. They handle calls to 1722 on separate phone lines from those to 112 so that they can handle the most urgent calls to 112 first, such as those for people having a heart attack or whose house is on fire. If your emergency area has an e-counter, you can also use it.

How does the electronic counter work?

If you request assistance via the 1722.be website, you must first enter your contact details and your municipality, following which the site will send your request to your rescue area. The website can also redirect you to your local fire department’s electronic counter.

The electronic counter will help you choose the reason why you need the fire brigade. If you can’t find the right option, ask yourself if this is indeed a problem requiring firefighter intervention.

Wait patiently for the firefighters to arrive following submitting your request and do not contact them once more to find out their whereregardings. Firefighters examine each situation on a case-by-case basis and give priority to anyone whose life is potentially in danger. During a storm or flood, firefighters deal with many requests at once and you may have to wait because they must first help people whose lives are in danger.

If you call 1722

When you call the number 1722, you must first enter your postal code, then you will hear the following message:

“Welcome to 1722. The quickest way to request help from the firefighters is the electronic counter on the 1722.be website. If you don’t have access to the Internet, stay online. Do not call 112. You will not receive further help at this emergency number. 112 is reserved for situations where a person’s life is or might potentially be in danger. »

Preferably use the e-counter. This avoids having to wait a long time before having an operator online. Indeed, telephone lines are sometimes saturated when many people call at the same time. A request made via the e-counter is treated in the same way by the firefighters as a request made by calling 1722. You will therefore not be helped more quickly by calling 1722.

If you cannot use the electronic teller machine, if you do not have Internet or if the e-teller does not work for technical reasons, you can of course call 1722 and following the automatic message you will have an operator online .

Who do I call if I need help?

First ask yourself if a life is potentially in danger or if firefighter intervention is necessary.

> I call the number 112 when I urgently need an ambulance or the fire brigade because a life is potentially in danger.

>I use the electronic fire service on www.1722.be or I call the number 1722 when no lives are in danger but I need help from the firefighters.

> I call a qualified professional (or I repair it myself) when no life is potentially in danger and the damage does not require the intervention of the fire brigade. The numbers 112 and 1722 cannot be used in these cases.

Priority to lives in danger

The 112 emergency centers and firefighters always give priority to people whose lives are potentially in danger. They analyze situations on a case-by-case basis and determine who needs to be rescued first. During a storm or flood, they have to process many requests at the same time.

The objective of the electronic counter 1722.be and the number 1722 is to avoid overloading the 112 emergency centers and not to keep people whose lives are in danger waiting. Be patient and do not call back to find out when help will arrive.

Only the numbers 112 (fire brigade, ambulance) and 101 (police) are emergency numbers. In the event of a storm or flood, only call 112 if a life is potentially in danger.

The number 1722 is activated preventively when a storm or flood is announced. This activation in no way predicts the seriousness of the warning or the extent of possible damage.

In normal times, when there is no risk of storm or flooding and the 1722 number is not activated, you can call the emergency number 112 for any urgent help from an ambulance or the intervention of the firefighters.

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