If you hear Singapore’s Public Warning System siren, act according to the signal. The Alarm means seek shelter immediately. The Important Message signal means tune in promptly to a local FM radio station or TV channel for official instructions. The All Clear means the threat has passed and you may leave the shelter. SCDF provides audio examples of all three signals. SCDF Public Warning System and audio samples
If you are unsure which sound you heard, get official information promptly and follow any instructions from responders or staff where you are. A school, station or building may also make its own announcements. Listen for the instruction that applies to your location. SCDF Public Warning System and audio samples
- Alarm means move to shelter immediately.
- Important Message means listen to local FM radio or TV for official instructions.
- All Clear means you may leave the shelter. Keep following directions at the site.
On this page
- Learn the three signals by sound
- Know what counts as a civil defence shelter
- Check whether a scheduled sounding was announced
- Frequently asked questions
Learn the three signals by sound
Use SCDF’s audio samples during a calm moment. Play one, then ask your child or another adult to say the action they would take. Practise the action and sound together. A person can recognise the name on paper and still hesitate when hearing the signal across a busy road or inside a shopping centre. SCDF Public Warning System and audio samples
SCDF identifies the Alarm with an imminent air raid or shelling. All Clear marks the end of the relevant threat. The Important Message signal tells you to receive an official broadcast. The announcement supplies the details that a siren alone cannot communicate, such as which instruction applies and when to act. SCDF Public Warning System and audio samples
Know what counts as a civil defence shelter
SCDF explains the difference between household, storey and public shelters. Check what is provided in your own building, then use SCDF’s public shelter information to identify options near places your family uses regularly. Some underground MRT stations are designed to function as public shelters, and SCDF publishes the relevant list. SCDF guide to shelter types and locations
Plan for the place you are actually in
Your route from home may be different from your route at a tuition centre, workplace or school. Ask the responsible adult or building operator what procedure applies on those premises. If a child is with school staff when an instruction is issued, follow the school’s directions on supervision and collection. Use a short message to confirm who has the child and wait for pickup instructions before making a trip.
Tell the staff early if someone needs assistance with mobility, hearing or a language barrier. In household planning, decide who will share the spoken message with that person and which arrangements they can manage independently.
Check whether a scheduled sounding was announced
SCDF describes scheduled islandwide soundings of the Important Message signal on 15 February and 15 September at 6.20 pm. During the exercise, local radio and free-to-air TV carry the Total Defence message. The SGSecure app can also deliver an exercise notification when the relevant alerts are enabled. Check the current SCDF notice for any updates. SCDF Public Warning System and audio samples
A family example
A parent hears a siren at home while a teenager is at CCA. The parent tunes in to a local broadcast and reads the school’s latest message. The teenager stays with the teacher and passes on the location once staff say it is safe to message. When the school confirms pickup, both people are working from the same instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Should I leave shelter as soon as the siren goes quiet?
Use the official All Clear or instructions from the authorities to determine when to leave. Silence by itself gives you no instruction about whether the threat has passed. SCDF Public Warning System and audio samples
How can I teach a younger child the signals?
Play the SCDF samples at a comfortable volume, one at a time. Ask the child to show you whom they would listen to at school and where they would go with an adult at home. Repeat the exercise when the household plan changes. SCDF Public Warning System and audio samples
What should I share in a family chat?
Pass along the current official instruction and identify its source. If the announcement mentions a place or time, include both so that readers can tell whether it applies to them.