NationStates Jolt Archive

I was watching the news the other day, a reporter in Hezbollah in the field and the air raid type sirens were going off and it got me thinking...

If the UK were to be attacked by another country, air attack I mean, there is only so much our airforce can fight off. Nothing to stop something entering our airspace and bombing. Like 9/11, London was on alert then...

But what does that mean?!

We don't have any sirens like those sounding in Hezbollah...so we wouldnt know it was happening instantly. We'd then no doubt see it on the news, and then what!? Where would we go...we have no safe houses, we have no way out. Planes would be grounded, boats wouldnt be leaving ports. We'd be pretty screwed. This country is in no way prepared for such instances.

Personally, I'd go and sit in the middle of a wide open space and hope for the best. Seems like the most logical thing to do lol

I know it seems like a silly time to be considering this...why didn't I give this thought when 9/11 or 7/7 happened...

Just thought I'd share my views...see if any other Britons had ever thought about the same things...or if anyone has any opnions on the matter!

An air raid siren would probably cause more panic than anything else. I don't think too many people over there maintain bomb shelters, so a siren probably wouldn't help things. In any case, I'm sure your air force can handle any reasonably likely threat.. I don't think I'd worry.

Where would we go...we have no safe houses, we have no way out.

Ah, but the government, both local and national do, so everything will be alright.

An air raid siren would probably cause more panic than anything else. I don't think too many people over there maintain bomb shelters, so a siren probably wouldn't help things. In any case, I'm sure your air force can handle any reasonably likely threat.. I don't think I'd worry.
But do you see what I'm getting at...in the instance that that might happen. We'd be fucked! One of the most economically developed countries in the world and we'd be helpless. It's just a scary thought.

I'm not saying that things like that will help. I'm just trying to get across that I think we're unprepared for such eventualities.

never thought about it and really Britain will never be defeated in the air (or land or sea or.....space!) so no worries there but if it ever does come to it the baddies would most likely bomb someone I know and thus cause me to join a terrorist organization and run around shooting a gun in the air taking at seagulls and such

Ah, but the government, both local and national do, so everything will be alright.
lol great. I feel better now. The only people that would be left, all politicians. If I was a lone civilian survivor and found out that I'd probably shoot myself!

I was watching the news the other day, a reporter in Hezbollah in the field and the air raid type sirens were going off and it got me thinking...

If the UK were to be attacked by another country, air attack I mean, there is only so much our airforce can fight off. Nothing to stop something entering our airspace and bombing. Like 9/11, London was on alert then...

But what does that mean?!

We don't have any sirens like those sounding in Hezbollah...so we wouldnt know it was happening instantly. We'd then no doubt see it on the news, and then what!? Where would we go...we have no safe houses, we have no way out. Planes would be grounded, boats wouldnt be leaving ports. We'd be pretty screwed. This country is in no way prepared for such instances.

Personally, I'd go and sit in the middle of a wide open space and hope for the best. Seems like the most logical thing to do lol

I know it seems like a silly time to be considering this...why didn't I give this thought when 9/11 or 7/7 happened...

Just thought I'd share my views...see if any other Britons had ever thought about the same things...or if anyone has any opnions on the matter!


We do have air raid sirens left over from WW2 and The Cold War.

These air raids you speak of, happened in WW2 you know...and air raid shelters can be made out of Underground Tube Stations (although bunker busting bombs may be a problem) and caves, and garages, although obviously, a direct hit would mean the end of the occupants.

As for a nuke strike.....don't go there.

Depending on what the war is about, the RAF could be backed up by the USAF as allies (if they are true to their word, and not just using the UK as a client poodle state) and also the EU.

never thought about it and really Britain will never be defeated in the air (or land or sea or.....space!) so no worries there but if it ever does come to it the baddies would most likely bomb someone I know and thus cause me to join a terrorist organization and run around shooting a gun in the air taking at seagulls and such
Christ lol! They'd definitly go for major cities...which I class as London, Manchester, Birmingham and the such. Bristols not that big is it? Although we do have the MOD, they might target that...

We don't have any sirens like those sounding in Hezbollah...so we wouldnt know it was happening instantly. We'd then no doubt see it on the news, and then what!? Where would we go...we have no safe houses, we have no way out. Planes would be grounded, boats wouldnt be leaving ports. We'd be pretty screwed. This country is in no way prepared for such instances.

I highly doubt there are no air-raid sirens in the UK and that there are no bomb shelters.

In Sweden they test the air-raid sirens periodically at set dates and times, and buildings that have community bomb shelters are clearly marked with orange triangles. All phone catalogues carry information about the types of signals that are used, and what one should do in time of war, including an admonishment to aid in repelling the attacker, but only through methods adhering to international law. Rules for resistance militias are also included, and so are tips on how one recognises enemy propaganda on the air-waves.

I would very much doubt, again, that the UK lacks any sort of equivalent, and would wager that you are just ignorant of it.

I highly doubt there are no air-raid sirens in the UK and that there are no bomb shelters.

In Sweden they test the air-raid sirens periodically at set dates and times, and buildings that have community bomb shelters are clearly marked with orange triangles. All phone catalogues carry information about the types of signals that are used, and what one should do in time of war, including an admonishment to aid in repelling the attacker, but only through methods adhering to international law. Rules for resistance militias are also included, and so are tips on how one recognises enemy propaganda on the air-waves.

I would very much doubt, again, that the UK lacks any sort of equivalent, and would wager that you are just ignorant of it.
:( I didnt post this to be attacked, I posted it because I was thinking about it.

I'd like to think I'm not totally ignorant of important things like that. If there are such things I admit I don't know of them, hence the thread and if I dont know about them then lots of other people don't either. I've been discussing this at work and with friends and none of the people I have spoken too have any more idea than I do.

I'm an intelligant person, and I'm sensible and like to think I'm not just some youth that couldnt give a toss about politics and the economy. I'm willing to learn and these are my thoughts ok.

If there are such things as you have in Sweden over here I'd like someone to point it out to me.

In Sweden they test the air-raid sirens periodically at set dates and times, and buildings that have community bomb shelters are clearly marked with orange triangles. All phone catalogues carry information about the types of signals that are used, and what one should do in time of war, including an admonishment to aid in repelling the attacker, but only through methods adhering to international law. Rules for resistance militias are also included, and so are tips on how one recognises enemy propaganda on the air-waves.

Damn. Sweden owns.

Absolutely nothing of the sort here in NZ.

Damn. Sweden owns.

Absolutely nothing of the sort here in NZ.
See thats what I think about the UK...surely if this stuff was around I'd know about it?

lol great. I feel better now. The only people that would be left, all politicians. If I was a lone civilian survivor and found out that I'd probably shoot myself!

Possibly not.. I recall reading an investigative report in the local paper on the bomb/fallout shelter underneath Pomona, the city adjacent to mine.. turns out that back in the early days of the Cold War one of the largest bomb shelters in the country was built under Pomona, since, being the County seat for L.A. County, it was thought at that time to have some importance... to summarize, none of the current County supervisors or local government knew about it, or almost none, and the ones that did had no idea where the entrances or exits were. I sure didn't know about it when I lived there..

So maybe the politicians won't escape unharmed.. :p In fact, wasn't there a forgotten bomb shelter recently discovered in England, maybe 6 months ago? Had all kinds of interesting artifacts, I think. Coulda been someplace else though.

See thats what I think about the UK...surely if this stuff was arond I'd know about it?
Hmm. NZ sucks though. If we got attacked it would all over pretty damn quickly. We are very dependent on foreign help if anything happens. Still, but the time aid did come, we would be well and truely fucked.

Possibly not.. I recall reading an investigative report in the local paper on the bomb/fallout shelter underneath Pomona, the city adjacent to mine.. turns out that back in the early days of the Cold War one of the largest bomb shelters in the country was built under Pomona, since, being the County seat for L.A. County, it was thought at that time to have some importance... to summarize, none of the current County supervisors or local government knew about it, or almost none, and the ones that did had no idea where the entrances or exits were. I sure didn't know about it when I lived there..

So maybe the politicians won't escape unharmed.. :p In fact, wasn't there a forgotten bomb shelter recently discovered in England, maybe 6 months ago? Had all kinds of interesting artifacts, I think. Coulda been someplace else though.
I've not heard of this!?! If anyone has let me know, or link me to it somewhere!

I just feel like we're taking for granted that it wont happen to us. Or that if it does we'll be horribly unprepared. Bit of a schoolboy error type situation.

:( I didnt post this to be attacked, I posted it because I was thinking about it.

I'd like to think I'm not totally ignorant of important things like that. If there are such things I admit I don't know of them, hence the thread and if I dont know about them then lots of other people don't either. I've been discussing this at work and with friends and none of the people I have spoken too have any more idea than I do.

I'm an intelligant person, and I'm sensible and like to think I'm not just some youth that couldnt give a toss about politics and the economy. I'm willing to learn and these are my thoughts ok.

If there are such things as you have in Sweden over here I'd like someone to point it out to me.


He's not attacking you. By ignorant, he just means that you were unaware of them.

As for attack from the air, I'm pretty sure that the UK is protected by some pretty decent anti-aircraft weaponry.

I highly doubt there are no air-raid sirens in the UK and that there are no bomb shelters.

In Sweden they test the air-raid sirens periodical...
<snip>

Yeah, but that's Sweden!
If the whole world was like Sweden, Earth would be a paradise. Just one of the reasons we all hate you. :p

lol great. I feel better now. The only people that would be left, all politicians. If I was a lone civilian survivor and found out that I'd probably shoot myself!

Go hunt down a copy of Threads (http://www.ashleypomeroy.com/threads.html) for further reassurance.

I think I've found what was being said about that bunker being discovered in the Uk. I knew nothing about this and its really close to me!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1849406,00.html

Crazyness!

I was watching the news the other day, a reporter in Hezbollah in the field and the air raid type sirens were going off and it got me thinking...

If the UK were to be attacked by another country, air attack I mean, there is only so much our airforce can fight off. Nothing to stop something entering our airspace and bombing. Like 9/11, London was on alert then...

But what does that mean?!

We don't have any sirens like those sounding in Hezbollah...so we wouldnt know it was happening instantly. We'd then no doubt see it on the news, and then what!? Where would we go...we have no safe houses, we have no way out. Planes would be grounded, boats wouldnt be leaving ports. We'd be pretty screwed. This country is in no way prepared for such instances.

Personally, I'd go and sit in the middle of a wide open space and hope for the best. Seems like the most logical thing to do lol

I know it seems like a silly time to be considering this...why didn't I give this thought when 9/11 or 7/7 happened...

Just thought I'd share my views...see if any other Britons had ever thought about the same things...or if anyone has any opnions on the matter!
Are you sure you don't have the sirens?
I'm sure you had a warning system for when the Luftwaffe was blitzing your cities.
According to Doctor Who, you have Torchwood, nothing beats Torchwood...
Except the Doctor.
Also in WWII they used the Undergound Railway system and Stations as bomb shelters.

Well the UK doesn't have sirens cos its not the 1940's and if something does happen then the same will be done for the July bombings the electronic signs on roads will give details of the bombings or to turn on your radios and the news stations will keep ppl informed, unless the attacks can be prevented then there will be a casulty list that cannot be avoided.

I've not heard of this!?! If anyone has let me know, or link me to it somewhere!

I just feel like we're taking for granted that it wont happen to us. Or that if it does we'll be horribly unprepared. Bit of a schoolboy error type situation.

My mistake.. wrong country.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=4012290

Still, it only supports my earlier anecdote about city officials' ignorance about these kinds of things.

See thats what I think about the UK...surely if this stuff was around I'd know about it?

A lot of the UK air-raid shelters and underground cubbyholes were decommisioned after the end of the Cold War. Some are now used as archive space, as they are effectively automatically refrigerated, some have been sold (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4421786.stm) on to private concerns, and some are even being operated as tourist traps.

Just out of interest, what country plans on and has the resources to bomb the UK and why? Before you said "I would like to think I'm not totally ignorant of important things like that" in reference to bomb shelters, but are you really in any real danger? This all just seems a bit over the top, it's almost as if you want shelters in every street, sirens on every corner, military watch 24-7 and survival kits for every person in the rare chance that you might be attacked by a terrorist. Think about the chance of this actually happening, there's a higher chance of you dying in a car crash then dying from bombs being dropped on the UK.

Damn. Sweden owns.

Absolutely nothing of the sort here in NZ.
Not true!
We just have them hidden...
well...

Touchwood

Torchwood. Personally I believe it was a better idea when they left these things in the hands of the United Nations, but that is beside the point...

Not true!
We just have them hidden...
well...
:)
We would get pwnt. I don't really mind though. I've always thought swimming to Australia would be worth a shot.

Just out of interest, what country plans on and has the resources to bomb the UK and why?

If our glorious leader is to be believed Iraq did.

A lot of the UK air-raid shelters and underground cubbyholes were decommisioned after the end of the Cold War. Some are now used as archive space, as they are effectively automatically refrigerated, some have been sold (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4421786.stm) on to private concerns, and some are even being operated as tourist traps.

Damn yeah, I'd pay good money to go on the "buried alive tour" of the Underground!

:)
We would get pwnt. I don't really mind though. I've always thought swimming to Australia would be worth a shot.
PWnD indeed even with our 5 low level Anti-aircaft missle systems...

Damn. Sweden owns.

Well, having Russia as a neighbour has always worked as an incentive for planning, and that's ignoring the half century we were stuck between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. ;) Although, we do not "own" in the least.

Absolutely nothing of the sort here in NZ.

Not even a counterpart to SEMA (http://www.krisberedskapsmyndigheten.se/defaultEN____224.aspx)?

Have you checked out you local municipality's website? Your government website? They must have something.

Just out of interest, what country plans on and has the resources to bomb the UK and why? Before you said "I would like to think I'm not totally ignorant of important things like that" in reference to bomb shelters, but are you really in any real danger? This all just seems a bit over the top, it's almost as if you want shelters in every street, sirens on every corner, military watch 24-7 and survival kits for every person in the rare chance that you might be attacked by a terrorist. Think about the chance of this actually happening, there's a higher chance of you dying in a car crash then dying from bombs being dropped on the UK.
I hate the fact that discussion on here doesnt involve facial expressions and body language. Tone of voice etc...

It is merely something I've been thinking about. I'm not about to jump off a cliff to end it before it starts. I am not digging a tunnel in my back garden so I can escape if my home is raided. I am simply saying that I feel our country is a little unprepared.

I know at this moment in time there are no direct threats for this on our country. But to say it will never happen seems a bit naive. Sorry if this is coming across that I'm going over the top and panicing, I'm really not.

Torchwood. Personally I believe it was a better idea when they left these things in the hands of the United Nations, but that is beside the point...

Trust the Doctor. He might be a Time Lord, but he's British to his bootstraps!

Torchwood. Personally I believe it was a better idea when they left these things in the hands of the United Nations, but that is beside the point...
Sorry thats what i mean't i'm thinking of someone else er something else...

If our glorious leader is to be believed Iraq did.
Very good point! There was all of that uncertainty about nuclear weapons a while back. I hardly have the resources to know for certain that something like that may have been a reality, I have to trust in what I hear on the news!

Well, having Russia as a neighbour has always worked as an incentive for planning, and that's ignoring the half century we were stuck between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. ;) Although, we do not "own" in the least.



Not even a counterpart to SEMA (http://www.krisberedskapsmyndigheten.se/defaultEN____224.aspx)?

Have you checked out you local municipality's website? Your government website? They must have something.
Certainly owns NZ.

We do have emergency management services, but they are more worried about natural disasters. War/invasion is virtually never considered as a threat to national safety.

It is true, Britain's civil defence capacity is non-existent.

It would not take much at all to exceed the UK's capacity for coping with national emergency. In fact, a real national emergency would exceed that capacity. :rolleyes:

Well, having Russia as a neighbour has always worked as an incentive for planning, and that's ignoring the half century we were stuck between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. ;) Although, we do not "own" in the least.



Not even a counterpart to SEMA (http://www.krisberedskapsmyndigheten.se/defaultEN____224.aspx)?

Have you checked out you local municipality's website? Your government website? They must have something.
Hmm You and your long heritage of Gustav Adolphus and your S Tanks...
Nope NZ sucks.

It is true, Britain's civil defence capacity is non-existent.

It would not take much at all to exceed the UK's capacity for coping with national emergency. In fact, a real national emergency would exceed that capacity. :rolleyes:
lol! *slightly relieved someone else thinks the same or at least gets what I'm saying!*

We do have emergency management services, but they are more worried about natural disasters. War/invasion is virtually never considered as a threat to national safety.

That's not exactly surprising. Like, what belligerent neighbours do you have? And who'd go all the way down there? :P

It is true, Britain's civil defence capacity is non-existent.

It would not take much at all to exceed the UK's capacity for coping with national emergency. In fact, a real national emergency would exceed that capacity. :rolleyes:

It seems to be in the British nature that small emergencies generate a great deal of sound and fury, but when it comes to the real emergencies people just grin and bare it.

I guess even if we did have air raid sirens...we'd probably adopt the same mentality as we do with burgler alarms. 'bloody hell the air raid sirens going off again' *closes windows to block sound out*

The british do seem to be quite ignorant in respects like that I do agree. Not all, I'm not meaning to offend but we are in some respects.

It is true, Britain's civil defence capacity is non-existent.

...

Nah, get your CB radio, and you're sweet: http://www.raynet-uk.net/main/
<shuts up now, thinking of terrorists>

That's not exactly surprising. Like, what belligerent neighbours do you have? And who'd go all the way down there? :P
Japan nearly did. Nowadays it's unlikely anyone would want to.
Nothing special to see here folks.

That's not exactly surprising. Like, what belligerent neighbours do you have? And who'd go all the way down there? :P
Just China...
Maybe Indonesia and Japan
But we are incidental an target

Japan nearly did. Nowadays it's unlikely anyone would want to.
Nothing special to see here folks.

Anonymity and "irrelevance" are severely underrated nowadays. I think more countries should strive for them; trading and acting nicely with people, and not really making yourself a target.

Just China...
Maybe Indonesia

Neither of those would exactly come in the night without warning, like the Russian or the Yank of my childhood would... you've Australia as a buffer and, umm, one of those mine gas canaries.

the UK does not have any sort of public warning system???

That seems a little weird. I remember when I was young (not so long ago) and growing up in the Netherlands they used to test the warning sirens every fist Monday of each month.

And they were not so much warning sirens for air attack, but if there is, for example, some sort of industrial accident nearby resulting in possible air poisoning or similar incidents. "When the siren goes, go inside, close all your doors and windows and listen to the emergency broadcast system".

I find it very, very surprising if the UK would not have the equivalent of that.... (then again, I think here in Italy, where I live now, I have never noticed it either, but that is Italy: not that civilised, you know... ;) )

Neither of those would exactly come in the night without warning, like the Russian or the Yank of my childhood would... you've Australia as a buffer and, umm, one of those mine gas canaries.
No but Indonesia is potentially close to am Islamic revloution or something, we might need t osend troops to Timor again, Indonesias stance may change our troops get 'abducted' or Australias and who knows.. .

As for China the yare already in Tonga trying to spread a regional influence.
No one would attack us we are too far out of the way but we may get involved in something bigger.

the UK does not have any sort of public warning system???

That seems a little weird. I remember when I was young (not so long ago) and growing up in the Netherlands they used to test the warning sirens every fist Monday of each month.

And they were not so much warning sirens for air attack, but if there is, for example, some sort of industrial accident nearby resulting in possible air poisoning or similar incidents. "When the siren goes, go inside, close all your doors and windows and listen to the emergency broadcast system".

I find it very, very surprising if the UK would not have the equivalent of that.... (then again, I think here in Italy, where I live now, I have never noticed it either, but that is Italy: not that civilised, you know... ;) )
See I find it quite suprising as well that nothing like this is in place. We have no instructions on what to do if such things happen.

Christ lol! They'd definitly go for major cities...which I class as London, Manchester, Birmingham and the such. Bristols not that big is it? Although we do have the MOD, they might target that...

Brizzle is 1st on the list. See?

*holds fake list in the air and shakes it a bit so nobody can actually read it.*

Brizzle is 1st on the list. See?

*holds fake list in the air and shakes it a bit so nobody can actually read it.*
:eek: Don't even joke about that lol

Only Bristolians call it Brizzle lol

*snatches list...burns* :p

the UK does not have any sort of public warning system???

That seems a little weird. I remember when I was young (not so long ago) and growing up in the Netherlands they used to test the warning sirens every fist Monday of each month.

And they were not so much warning sirens for air attack, but if there is, for example, some sort of industrial accident nearby resulting in possible air poisoning or similar incidents. "When the siren goes, go inside, close all your doors and windows and listen to the emergency broadcast system".
) )

That's the same as here as well. The siren system is upkept not just for some kind of war/air raid, but just as much for some kind of industrial incident or nuclear power station melt-down etc. In fact, the emphasis is more on that use than war these days.

When you hear the siren, it's exact meaning is just to go inside, close the doors and windows/ventilation and switch on the radio or television to hear more information.

They are tested on the first Monday of the last month of the quarter at 15.00.

That's the same as here as well. The siren system is upkept not just for some kind of war/air raid, but just as much for some kind of industrial incident or nuclear power station melt-down etc. In fact, the emphasis is more on that use than war these days.


I would have thought the whole of Europe would have such a system. I am half-sure they have it in Germany too.

How odd no such thing is in place in the UK...:confused:

I'm pretty sure here in Australia we don't have any kind of warning system either.

I was watching the news the other day, a reporter in Hezbollah in the field and the air raid type sirens were going off and it got me thinking...

If the UK were to be attacked by another country, air attack I mean, there is only so much our airforce can fight off. Nothing to stop something entering our airspace and bombing. Like 9/11, London was on alert then...

But what does that mean?!

We don't have any sirens like those sounding in Hezbollah...so we wouldnt know it was happening instantly. We'd then no doubt see it on the news, and then what!? Where would we go...we have no safe houses, we have no way out. Planes would be grounded, boats wouldnt be leaving ports. We'd be pretty screwed. This country is in no way prepared for such instances.

Personally, I'd go and sit in the middle of a wide open space and hope for the best. Seems like the most logical thing to do lol

I know it seems like a silly time to be considering this...why didn't I give this thought when 9/11 or 7/7 happened...

Just thought I'd share my views...see if any other Britons had ever thought about the same things...or if anyone has any opnions on the matter!

I agree that we should have some sort of official siren/warning system. On the other hand, I don't see the need for any air raid shelters or the like as I doubt Britain will ever be attacked by conventional means.

1. We have a substantial nuclear deterrent.
2. Despite recent cuts we still have a strong navy and air force.
3. Given the number of US troops and planes in the UK the US would almost certainly get dragged into any conflict.

I fear TG is right in saying that any true national emergency would make a mockery of our preparations though. :(

I was watching the news the other day, a reporter in Hezbollah in the field and the air raid type sirens were going off and it got me thinking...

We don't have any sirens like those sounding in Hezbollah...

Umm... Hizbollah isn't a country...

So yeah, Air Raid Sirens... now that y'all are mentioning it it does seem a bit weird that we don't have any... I guess they probably must have been got rid off after the War, they probably need quite a bit of upkeep, and there isn't actually much of a threat. But if there was a threat they would probably be installed pretty quickly.

I'm not to bothered. Luckily there happens to be an underground bomb shelter in the local park. Thats all I need..

Anyway Air Raid sirens even though a good warning signal would create panic and in times of panic everyone goes crazy. But it could be a good idea or a giant anouncement system on every street.

"DANGER DANGER! ATTENTION PEOPLE OF BRITAIN! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!

or something to that affect.

Who would air-raid the U.K in these times?

Iran,Syria,France...ect? Britian only has to worry about terrorist hijaking a plane and Smashing it into a building...But what if Al-Queada got a hold of the military planes?

And if that happend the country side would be the safest along with forest!

I was watching the news the other day, a reporter in Hezbollah in the field and the air raid type sirens were going off and it got me thinking...

If the UK were to be attacked by another country, air attack I mean, there is only so much our airforce can fight off. Nothing to stop something entering our airspace and bombing. Like 9/11, London was on alert then...

What did London do in 1940?

What did London do in 1940?

Suffered her finest hour .

I was watching the news the other day, a reporter in Hezbollah in the field and the air raid type sirens were going off and it got me thinking...

If the UK were to be attacked by another country, air attack I mean, there is only so much our airforce can fight off. Nothing to stop something entering our airspace and bombing. Like 9/11, London was on alert then...

But what does that mean?!

We don't have any sirens like those sounding in Hezbollah...so we wouldnt know it was happening instantly. We'd then no doubt see it on the news, and then what!? Where would we go...we have no safe houses, we have no way out. Planes would be grounded, boats wouldnt be leaving ports. We'd be pretty screwed. This country is in no way prepared for such instances.

Personally, I'd go and sit in the middle of a wide open space and hope for the best. Seems like the most logical thing to do lol

I know it seems like a silly time to be considering this...why didn't I give this thought when 9/11 or 7/7 happened...

Just thought I'd share my views...see if any other Britons had ever thought about the same things...or if anyone has any opnions on the matter!

There are air raid sirend in the town I live in, they test them once in a while.

There'd be a nation alert system, we probably just know about it yet.

*shrug*

I guess even if we did have air raid sirens...we'd probably adopt the same mentality as we do with burgler alarms. 'bloody hell the air raid sirens going off again' *closes windows to block sound out*

The british do seem to be quite ignorant in respects like that I do agree. Not all, I'm not meaning to offend but we are in some respects.

http://freespace.virgin.net/roy.smith5/sirens.htm
According to this, there are still a few in working order.

*shrug* In my little neighborhood of NY, I can remember since I was a kid (a LOOOOOOONG time ago) that the air raid sirens have been tested at noon every day.

I suppose that I find it a little surprising that the UK has not done the same.

Ive never heard a genuine air raid siren.

Suffered her finest hour .

Yes, of course, but I seem to remember learning in history about the air raid sirens, and people evacuating to the Underground to be safe from the bombs falling.

Of course, I'm only a Yank.

Yes, of course, but I seem to remember learning in history about the air raid sirens, and people evacuating to the Underground to be safe from the bombs falling.

Of course, I'm only a Yank.

I am too. I think that we avoided most of that unpleasantness by eventually going into MAD mode. We couldnt very well assure that we would be mutually destroyed if we all had bomb shelters and constant civil defense drills could we?

Scary, but again, when I was a kid and long before 9/11, there were bomb shelter drills in my school. Of course, all that was was all people being evacuated into the halls, being made to sit on the floor away from doors and windows.

Absolutely useless against a direct hit, of course. But something to do to distract people from utter panic in an emergency.

Scary, but again, when I was a kid and long before 9/11, there were bomb shelter drills in my school. Of course, all that was was all people being evacuated into the halls, being made to sit on the floor away from doors and windows.

Absolutely useless against a direct hit, of course. But something to do to distract people from utter panic in an emergency.


Any bomb drills in your school today? I presume you still do fire drills, are there any other drills you do? We had shedloads of types of drills at the last hospital I worked at, I wonder if schools do likewise.

I heard a rumour, and it is JUST a rumour, that near where we live there's a massive several mile long military underground bunker that they'd use.

*shrug*

meh, when my time's up, it's up. Bring It On.

I'm pretty sure that most people would go to the nearest place that has a celler to hide in

The pub

I know in large portions of the US we have tornado sirens, which are basically just air raid sirens that have had their duties changed since the end of the Soviet Union.

Any bomb drills in your school today? I presume you still do fire drills, are there any other drills you do? We had shedloads of types of drills at the last hospital I worked at, I wonder if schools do likewise.
We had firedrills, tornado drills and lockdown drills when I was in public schools. Tornado drills sound awfully similar to the air raid drills Kat was talking about.

We had firedrills, tornado drills and lockdown drills when I was in public schools. Tornado drills sound awfully similar to the air raid drills Kat was talking about.

Lockdown drills?

Don't worry Peeland, the RAF is pretty mean.

But what if Al-Queada got a hold of the military planes?

That's unlikely. And if they did, where would they get pilots trained to operate such planes? Where would they get the bombs? The fuel? The spare parts? The technicians? Where would the launch from? Where could they land again? You look at how much Britain, France, the US etc. spends on their air forces alone, and... well, any terrorist organisation will find it impossible to dig up that kind of money.

And as has been previously stated, a military attack on the UK is very unlikely at the moment. Not only does any nation who attacks us know that we could obliterate them with nuclear missiles, they also know that they can't actually figure out where they are to destroy them (since all the UK's nuclear weapons are submarine-based - hence, almost impossible to find until they've launched). That's also a good reason to support the renewal of the UK's nuclear deterrant, but that's another debate and I'm naughty for bringing it up :rolleyes:

Then they've got NATO to deal with - taking on NATO isn't the cleverest thing to do in the world.

And, of course, we do have the RAF and such. And the French air force would probably help out too if the government asked. So... um... I think we're quite safe :)

I imagine there are shelters, air defences and so forth dotted around but they just aren't publicised. I recall hearing rumours that facilities such as nuclear power stations and nuclear waste storage sites have anti aircraft defences, but whether it's true or not I don't know.

reminds me that in my town we have miles of underground tunnels (they cave in quite allot actually) apparently there are quite allot of guns and such in the tunnels unfortunately the police always seem to seal the entrances when they appear. (there is also rumoured to be a tank buried under a hill but my childhood digging never got any results)

(and even though the bus station is voted one the ugliest buildings in Britain its built to double as an aircraft hanger so in the even of emergency it’s a safe place to hide)

Any bomb drills in your school today? I presume you still do fire drills, are there any other drills you do? We had shedloads of types of drills at the last hospital I worked at, I wonder if schools do likewise.

One of the ironies of growing up in Northern Ireland: at school we had firedrills, like pretty much any school anywhere, but never had a fire, however we had multiple bombscares, which were handled differently than the fire drill, but never had a bomb drill.

What did London do in 1940?

You mean aside from suffer an epidemic of petty crime which wasn't officially acknowledged until 50 years later?

We don't have any sirens like those sounding in Hezbollah...so we wouldnt know it was happening instantly.
Actally, I've got a WWII hand-operated air-raid siren in my attic. It's awesome. :D

Actally, I've got a WWII hand-operated air-raid siren in my attic. It's awesome. :D
In Hamburg the sirens are still running. When there's a fire somewhere they sound them. But I don't think they're hand-operated. :p

EDIT: Oh, noez! I just read they're getting rid of them. Dammit, I'm out of the loop.

There are air raid sirend in the town I live in, they test them once in a while.
ditto here in southampton


and with reference to the OP: i'm sure our air forces can do a pretty good job and have good coverage. the thing that made 9/11 in america so devastating and effective, and same goes for the 7/7 bombings in london, was that intelligence didn't give warning to the appropriate authorities. had there been forewarning of 9/11 (well, there was IIRC, but lets not go into that) then the planes could have been shot down and thousands of lives saved for the price of a few hundered. technically. can't be sure that would have been the decision taken but i should imagine so.

my point is equating military capability of deterring a threat and knowledge of the threat doesn't make sense. we have the capability in practical terms, but knowledge is the key... and knowledge is the hardest to come by...


personally i don't think about this kind of thing as i generally don't find myself to be in danger.

I love air raid sirens. Theres one just down the road that goes off 3 times daily or so, but I think its to call the firefighters to the station or the EMTs to the...Rescue Squad place.

We don't have any sirens like those sounding in Hezbollah...so we wouldnt know it was happening instantly. We'd then no doubt see it on the news, and then what!? Where would we go...we have no safe houses, we have no way out. Planes would be grounded, boats wouldnt be leaving ports. We'd be pretty screwed. This country is in no way prepared for such instances.
Ever heard of the RAF?

We don't have anything like that her....jesus, in WW2 Belfast was one of the chief industrial cities in the UK and had more or less no protection from German bombers (22 AA guns with only 7 being operated on the night of the heaviest raid, no night fighters, no smokescreen, a few barrage balloons was about it), hence it having the greatest loss of life (outside London) from air raids during the Battle of Britain.


So if that's what we get in the middle of WW2 imagine what shite we'd be lumped with now.


As far as I know anyway, in the event of a major national emergency, the terresterial TV channels and radio stations switch to an 'emergency mode' sort of thing, broadcasting direct from the government.

We don't have anything like that her....jesus, in WW2 Belfast was one of the chief industrial cities in the UK and had more or less no protection from German bombers (22 AA guns with only 7 being operated on the night of the heaviest raid, no night fighters, no smokescreen, a few barrage balloons was about it), hence it having the greatest loss of life (outside London) from air raids during the Battle of Britain.


So if that's what we get in the middle of WW2 imagine what shite we'd be lumped with now.


As far as I know anyway, in the event of a major national emergency, the terresterial TV channels and radio stations switch to an 'emergency mode' sort of thing, broadcasting direct from the government.


Well it is the RAF. You need to house more Royals in Belfast I reckon.

Well it is the RAF. You need to house more Royals in Belfast I reckon.

Well, we do have 3 out of the 4 state buildings in Northern Ireland (and the entirety of what was, at the time, His Majesty's Government of Northern Ireland)...gotta count for something, surely?

Well, we do have 3 out of the 4 state buildings in Northern Ireland (and the entirety of what was, at the time, His Majesty's Government of Northern Ireland)...gotta count for something, surely?


Sorry you'll need a king or duke or princess or something before the Royal's Air Force can be expected to protect you.

Sorry you'll need a king or duke or princess or something before the Royal's Air Force can be expected to protect you.

Oh, I don't know about the Royal's Air Force, but the Royal Air Force would probably do it just fine ;)

Oh, I don't know about the Royal's Air Force, but the Royal Air Force would probably do it just fine ;)

I thought you said they didnt even send up a single plane for you during night bombings in WWII?

I thought you said they didnt even send up a single plane for you during night bombings in WWII?

Aye, blame that on the frankly useless NI government though. Didn't organise any air defence.

Ive never heard a genuine air raid siren.

Check with your local prison. ;) You're never further than 20 miles from a prison in California, and they usually test their jailbreak sirens monthly or so.

The prison a few blocks from me (Chino) tests monthly, and uses an old siren which may be left over from WWII. Chino was an anti-aircraft spotlight battery back then, inmate-operated. The siren schedule is listed online.

Sorry you'll need a king or duke or princess or something before the Royal's Air Force can be expected to protect you.

Read it and weep.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Henry%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester

Read it and weep.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Henry%2C_Duke_of_Gloucester

He's dead jim. Not much use in luring the RAF to Belfast to protect him in that state is he?

He's dead jim. Not much use in luring the RAF to Belfast to protect him in that state is he?

Not much point luring the RAF to protect Belfast from the Luftwaffe* sixty odd years after the fact now is there?



* sidenote: what the Luftwaffe and the paramilitaries never managed, private developers, the city council and Laganside have acheived in the past ten years. Fuck them and their obsession with destroying my city and then rebuilding it as another facsimile of an endless abandined commercial district.

Not much point luring the RAF to protect Belfast from the Luftwaffe* sixty odd years after the fact now is there?



* sidenote: what the Luftwaffe and the paramilitaries never managed, private developers, the city council and Laganside have acheived in the past ten years. Fuck them and their obsession with destroying my city and then rebuilding it as another facsimile of an endless abandined commercial district.

Seen all this North Street business? Newton Emerson hit the nail on the head when he pointed out that the argument was that it needed redeveloped because most of it was abandoned and derelict, but that the only reason it was abandoned and derelict was because the developers bought it sometime ago and left it to get into that state.

Seen all this North Street business? Newton Emerson hit the nail on the head when he pointed out that the argument was that it needed redeveloped because most of it was abandoned and derelict, but that the only reason it was abandoned and derelict was because the developers bought it sometime ago and left it to get into that state.

Far be it from me to even suggest the vaguest notion that the arson of North Street Arcade was carried out by someone even tangentially connected to redevelopment of the so-called Cathedral Quarter...

We're sitting back and watching our history get torn down and replaced by frigging Starbucks and McDonalds.

Not much point luring the RAF to protect Belfast from the Luftwaffe* sixty odd years after the fact now is there?
.

What in the confounded cathair does the luftwaffe have to do with anything?

Far be it from me to even suggest the vaguest notion that the arson of North Street Arcade was carried out by someone even tangentially connected to redevelopment of the so-called Cathedral Quarter...

We're sitting back and watching our history get torn down and replaced by frigging Starbucks and McDonalds.

You aren't the man himself, are you? That was far too quick a find of a quote...

But he's exactly right. Belfast's still a nice, fairly unique in many ways, city. Best to do something now before it gets ruined. I don't really mind Victoria Square so much (although they did take down quite a few great looking old buildings), but the whole of the city centre doesn't need to go that way.

Been down Ann Street lately? One whole side, the Victoria Square side, could just be from any city anywhere in the UK.

Been down Ann Street lately? One whole side, the Victoria Square side, could just be from any city anywhere in the UK.

Oh the humanity! How could the bastards just DO something generic loike that?

To be fair there have been some interesting enterprises in the CQ, the John Hewitt, for example, but I'm very much of the opinion that they have arisen despite, rather than because of, the centralised drive towards attracting inwards investment and gloriously launching Belfast into the C21st.

A prime example of the rank idiocy we have to contend with is the resurfacing of 'Writer's Square' a few years back: the reason? It was conducive to skating and so in their infinite wisdom the City Council decided that it would be much better to drive them away and leave just another abandoned and windswept plaza.

Sooner we get the Culture Sausage the better.

Been down Ann Street lately? One whole side, the Victoria Square side, could just be from any city anywhere in the UK.

To be fair though, Ann Street was raped in the 60's already. The archway to Pottinger's Entry remains, obviously, but only as a hollow and token gesture. I'm personally waiting to see if they put the plaque up marking the site Northern Ireland's first cinema again once they have finished with the whole Victoria Square malarky.

Oh yeah, don't even get me started on Laganside/City Council's vision of a unified arts centre in the Donegall Street area or I'm really very likely to punch someone. We are being led by fuckwits who waste our lives.

The whole Cathedral Quarter thing seems like a right pile of crap to me. What really has changed? Fair enough, the UU got a new walk-bridge somehow along the way, and the paving across the road from St. Anne's has been spruced up (although probably only because the Police Ombudsman and, I think, the Electoral Commission have their offices there).

The John Hewitt's a nice bar though, and handily round the corner from the Whig. And Whites.

As for Ann Street....sure it might have been raped already, but at least it had become part of the furniture of Belfast...now it's just being turned into a modern identikit street. Where was the cinema?

Reminds me of Coleraine and Lisburn...identical main streets. Literally identical.

Quit saying 'If the UK is attacked..'

You know its just gonna be England ;)

Wales wont get bombed because of 2 reasons:

a) Almost nothing worth bombing (The bomb probably worth more than the target)

b) Nobody has anything against us, heck, 50% of the world's population have never heard of us.

Yay we are safe in Wales.

Nuclear Missiles as deterrents for England? Pfft, we got Glyn as a f-ing deterrant, beat that :p

Edit~

Hmm, did I say 50% ? .. On second thoughts it's probably much more than that.

Quit saying 'If the UK is attacked..'

You know its just gonna be England ;)

Wales wont get bombed because of 2 reasons:

a) Almost nothing worth bombing (The bomb probably worth more than the target)

b) Nobody has anything against us, heck, 50% of the world's population have never heard of us.

Yay we are safe in Wales.

Nuclear Missiles as deterrents for England? Pfft, we got Glyn as a f-ing deterrant, beat that :p

Edit~

Hmm, did I say 50% ? .. On second thoughts it's probably much more than that.


Everybody knows Cymru rawks

http://www.urban75.org/cardiff/map.html

Do the Ayatollah!

What did London do in 1940?
Postponed 2 gala's and a county fair.