VMA, Viktigt Meddelande till Allmanheten, is Sweden's official public warning for serious events. You receive it through Sveriges Radio P4, on TV, as a message or call to your phone, and in many places through outdoor sirens. The key to staying informed in a crisis is a battery or hand-crank radio, because phones and the internet can fail. Sweden's Agency for Civil Defence (MCF, formerly MSB) recommends every household be able to manage at least one week on its own, and knowing what is happening is part of that. Here is how it works.
Reviewed by Oskar Bjork, defence engineer (Swedish Armed Forces) and adviser to Kapsel. Last updated 2026-06-23.
What a VMA is
A VMA is an Important Public Announcement, used to warn the public about a serious accident, severe weather, or other danger to life, health, property or the environment. There are two levels: a warning VMA for immediate danger, and an informational VMA for less urgent situations.
How you receive a VMA
- On Sveriges Radio P4 and other radio, and on Sveriges Television and TV4.
- As a text message or a voice call to phones in the affected area.
- Through the outdoor warning sirens, the signal known as Hesa Fredrik, in many areas, followed by going indoors and listening to the radio.
- Via the Sveriges Radio app and krisinformation.se when you have a connection.
The outdoor siren signal
The signal is a repeated tone, around 7 seconds on and 14 seconds off, for at least a minute. If you hear it: go indoors, close doors, windows and ventilation, and listen to Sveriges Radio P4 for information. The all-clear is a long, steady tone.
Staying informed when the network is down
- Keep a battery or hand-crank radio. It reaches P4 even when the mobile network and power are gone, which is exactly when you need it most.
- Keep a charged power bank for your phone and use it sparingly.
- Write down key numbers on paper, including family, and agree a meeting point in case you cannot reach each other.
Where this fits
Communication is one of the five basics, alongside water, heat, light and food. Build it into your kit from our complete emergency-kit checklist and our plan for a week without power and water. The Kapsel Core includes the communication and power basics in its Energy and Light capsule. See the Kapsel Core.
Frequently asked questions
What is a VMA?
VMA stands for Viktigt Meddelande till Allmanheten, an Important Public Announcement that warns the public about a serious event. It comes as a warning VMA for immediate danger or an informational VMA for less urgent situations.
How do I receive a VMA?
Through Sveriges Radio P4 and TV, as a text or call to phones in the area, through outdoor sirens in many places, and via the Sveriges Radio app and krisinformation.se.
What does the outdoor warning siren mean?
It is the signal to go indoors, close doors, windows and ventilation, and listen to Sveriges Radio P4. A long steady tone is the all-clear.
How do I stay informed if the power and network fail?
Use a battery or hand-crank radio to reach P4, keep a charged power bank, and keep a written list of key numbers and a family meeting point.
Sources: MCF (mcf.se), krisinformation.se, Sveriges Radio.
Staying informed is critical during a wildfire or grass fire, when a public warning can come at short notice.
Heightened alert and the warning signals are explained in the authorities' brochure. See if crisis or war comes.