On a Tuesday morning at 7:45 AM, an air alarm sounded in Eastern Norway due to a human error during a testing process. The Civil Defense is responsible for notifying the population about emergencies, especially in times of war. However, in this instance, it was the police who first alerted the public through the media, highlighting a significant lapse in the Civil Defense's internal communication protocols.

Georg Bryn, the acting chief of the Civil Defense, communicated through email that there was an 18-minute delay from the moment the alarm was triggered to when he was notified of the incident by the Civil Defense district. The alarm was triggered at 7:45 AM, and the police were able to inform the population and media by 8:01 AM. During this time, the Civil Defense did not have their protocols in place, leading to confusion and an overloaded phone line due to the influx of calls from the public seeking clarification.

This incident raises critical questions about the Civil Defense's readiness and communication efficacy during emergencies, especially when their role is to protect the population. The swift action from the police contrasts sharply with the delays from the Civil Defense, emphasizing the need for improved coordination and rapid response mechanisms to ensure public safety in future emergencies.