air-raid siren
Attack warning signal
An air-raid siren is a loud warning device used to alert civilians of an incoming aerial attack or other imminent danger.
These sirens produce a distinctive rising and falling wail designed to carry over long distances and penetrate buildings.
Though associated with World War II and Cold War civil defense, air-raid sirens remain in use for tornado warnings and emergency alerts.
The term also describes any similar piercing, wailing sound: Her voice cut through the noise like an air-raid siren.
Prolonged mournful cry
- blaringHarshly loud
- deafeningOverwhelmingly loud
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- earsplittingExtremely, painfully loud
shrill · klaxon · howl · drone · undulating · rising · falling · tone
Warning or watchfulness
- all clearSignal danger has passed
- red alertTop emergency warning state
- duck and coverEmergency protective posture
- signalMessage-conveying cue
alarm · announcement · broadcast · public address · skywatch · radar · early warning · air defense
Swift, overwhelming offensive
- bomberExplosive-delivery aircraft or saboteur
- incendiaryCausing or designed for burning
- antiaircraftGround-to-sky weaponry
- flakIntense hostile reaction
barrage · Luftwaffe · scramble · fighter · interceptor · searchlight · barrage balloon · ack-ack
Reinforced subterranean stronghold
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- blackoutComplete power loss
- civil defenseGovernment emergency civilian protection
- refugePlace of safety
basement · underground · subway · tube station · bomb shelter · reinforced · sandbags · precaution
Decisive dangerous moment
- first respondersPersonnel arriving at emergencies initially
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- rescueSave from harm
casualties · ambulance · relief · preparedness · response · readiness · drill · survival
wail
Prolonged mournful cry
earsplitting · shrill · klaxon · howl · drone · undulating · rising · falling · tone · horn
alert
Warning or watchfulness
- all clearSignal danger has passed
- red alertTop emergency warning state
- duck and coverEmergency protective posture
signal · alarm · announcement · broadcast · public address · skywatch · radar · early warning · air defense · spotters
blitz
Swift, overwhelming offensive
- bomberExplosive-delivery aircraft or saboteur
- incendiaryCausing or designed for burning
- antiaircraftGround-to-sky weaponry
flak · barrage · Luftwaffe · scramble · fighter · interceptor · searchlight · barrage balloon · ack-ack · dogfight
bunker
Reinforced subterranean stronghold
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- blackoutComplete power loss
- civil defenseGovernment emergency civilian protection
refuge · basement · underground · subway · tube station · bomb shelter · reinforced · sandbags · precaution
crisis
Decisive dangerous moment
- first respondersPersonnel arriving at emergencies initially
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
- disasterSudden ruinous event
rescue · casualties · ambulance · relief · preparedness · response · readiness · drill · survival · urgency