BE-Alert thunderstorm warnings arrived hours late, flagged as spam

Many people in Belgium received BE-Alert emails warning of severe thunderstorms hours after the danger had passed, according to reader reports and confirmation from the National Crisis Centre.

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What is the use of a warning for an imminent danger if it is only received more than 24 hours later?

The delayed notifications caused frustration, with one reader, Kathleen from Merchtem, questioning the utility of a warning for imminent danger that arrives over 24 hours late. The National Crisis Centre confirmed that over one million emails were sent across various campaigns on the day in question. "Often, tens to hundreds of thousands of messages are sent simultaneously with the same subject line. For email providers, that sometimes looks like spam or phishing," explained spokesperson Yves Stevens.

Stevens elaborated that these high volumes trigger alarms within email providers' systems. These providers are legally obligated to conduct extra checks to verify the messages' reliability, which leads to the delay. He clarified that the delay is not due to system overload but rather these verification processes. "Those checks cause the delay. Only then are the emails released."

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Yesterday, more than 1 million emails were sent, divided over different campaigns. It often involves tens to hundreds of thousands of messages that are sent simultaneously with the same subject. For email providers, that sometimes looks like spam or phishing.

The issue appears less prevalent with messages from cities and municipalities, as they are sent to a smaller audience. However, when a provincial governor or a similar authority sends a message to a much larger group, the risk of delay increases. The Crisis Centre plans to consult with email providers to find solutions for the future.

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Those checks cause the delay. Only then are the emails released.

The spokesperson stressed that email is just one communication channel for BE-Alert and not the primary one for emergencies. "For acute threats, SMS messages and spoken calls are much more effective than email." He noted that while one reader received the delayed email from Oost-Vlaanderen, they had received the BE-Alert SMS on time. Citizens can register with BE-Alert to receive government warnings via SMS, email, or phone calls.

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For acute threats, SMS messages and spoken calls are much more effective than email.