Katwarn or NINA: Which warning app is better?

Katwarn and NINA are apps for warning the population of possible danger situations. In the following practical tip, you can find out whether it is better to install Katwarn or NINA, what the similarities and differences are, and which app is better.

Katwarn or NINA – what the two apps do

The Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) has had the two apps developed. The aim is to warn the population of disasters and dangers.

• At the latest after the reactor accident in Fukushima, it became apparent that warning options for the population in Germany were far behind those of Japan, where messages with danger warnings were sent to cell phones.
• With Katwarn or NINA, you can define locations on your cell phone or have your location pinpointed by GPS to receive warnings for those locations.
• Both apps use data from the German Weather Service to sound the alarm for severe weather events.
• But the apps can also be triggered in the event of fires, power outages, bomb discoveries or pandemic events.
• The apps are available for Android and iOS.

NINA or Katwarn

In principle, the apps NINA (available for Android or iOS) and Katwarn (also available for Android or iOS) complement each other. Both access similar data, but take different approaches.

• Katwarn, for example, is actually more of a warning app, designed primarily to provide targeted information.
• Nina offers warnings for places as well as simple language for people with less proficiency in German or emergency tips.
• You can also set other languages in NINA. Thus, NINA certainly fulfills the BBK’s mission to warn and inform the population.
• In case of emergency, local authorities can equally issue notifications in both apps. For safety’s sake, it is advisable to install both so that in the event of a failure, the information still arrives.
• All these apps have their weak points. We explain what definitely needs to improve in warning apps.