Short answer. In Germany, dial 112 for the fire brigade and ambulance (the EU emergency number) and 110 for the police 1. For a doctor outside surgery hours, call 116117; for public authorities, 115 1. If 110 and 112 do not work, go to the nearest police station or hospital 1. The BBK is the federal civil-protection agency; disaster management is run by the Länder and local authorities 1.
Which numbers should every household in Germany know?
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Fire brigade, ambulance (EU emergency number) | 112 |
| Police | 110 |
| Public authorities hotline | 115 |
| Out-of-hours doctor | 116117 |
| NINA app helpdesk (free, from Germany) | 0800 664 711 9 |
| TelefonSeelsorge (crisis counselling, free) | 0800 111 0 111, 0800 111 0 222 or 116 123 |
Sources: BBK guide 1; NINA helpdesk 2.
The BBK checklist asks households to keep a paper list of important phone numbers 3. Write these numbers down with your family doctor, your neighbours and relatives, and keep the list with your documents. See How do I make a family emergency plan?.
What if you cannot speak on the phone?
Use the nora app, which allows silent emergency calls (www.nora-notruf.de) 1. Install and register it before you need it.
What if 110 and 112 do not work?
If the emergency numbers fail, go to the nearest police station or hospital 1. Know in advance where they are, on foot as well as by car.
Who is in charge of civil protection in Germany?
Responsibility is shared. The Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK, www.bbk.bund.de) is the federal civil-protection agency; day-to-day disaster management is run by the Länder and local authorities 1. The Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS, www.bfs.de) is the federal radiation-protection office. Official warnings are published on warnung.bund.de/meldungen and in the NINA app 2; see our Germany alerts page.
For questions about existing public shelters, see the BImA hotline on our public shelters page.
Frequently asked questions
Is 112 the number for the police too?
No. In Germany 112 is the EU emergency number for the fire brigade and ambulance; for the police, dial 110 1.
Which number do I call for a doctor at night or at the weekend?
116117 connects you to the out-of-hours medical service 1. In a life-threatening emergency, call 112.
Is there a helpline for emotional crisis support?
Yes. TelefonSeelsorge is free on 0800 111 0 111, 0800 111 0 222 or 116 123 1.
Where do I get help with the NINA app?
The NINA helpdesk is free from within Germany on 0800 664 711 9 2.
Sources
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) — Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen (2. Auflage, Stand 11/2025) — https://www.bbk.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Mediathek/Publikationen/Buergerinformationen/Ratgeber/BBK-Vorsorgen-fuer-Krisen-und-Katastrophen.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=44 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) — Warn-App NINA — https://www.bbk.bund.de/DE/Warnung-Vorsorge/Warn-App-NINA/warn-app-nina_node.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) — Checklisten zur Vorsorge – Krisen und Katastrophen — https://www.bbk.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Mediathek/Publikationen/Buergerinformationen/Ratgeber/Checklisten-zur-Vorsorge-Krisen-und-Katastrophen.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=19 (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Germany, worked out for your household.
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Sources
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) · Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen (2. Auflage, Stand 11/2025) checked 2026-10-20
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) · Warn-App NINA checked 2026-10-20
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) · Checklisten zur Vorsorge – Krisen und Katastrophen checked 2026-10-20