Austria

Country: Austria

• Country code: AT
• Official language: German
• Currency: Euro (EUR)
• Time zone: Central European Time, Central European Summer Time in summer
• Power supply: usually 230 V / 50 Hz, plug types C and F

Austria generally has very well-developed infrastructure. During a longer power outage, communication, transport, card payments, heating, cooling, lifts, petrol stations, supermarkets and parts of the water supply may still be restricted.

In alpine and rural regions, weather events, snow, storms, flooding, mudslides or road closures can cause additional problems. Households should therefore think not only about power outages, but also about limited accessibility.

The most important emergency numbers in Austria should be saved offline and also printed out.

• 112: European emergency number
• 122: fire brigade
• 133: police
• 144: rescue service / ambulance
• 140: mountain rescue
• 1450: health advice service
• 01 406 43 43: poison information centre

Use emergency numbers only in genuine emergencies. During a large-scale blackout, lines should not be blocked by general enquiries.

Austria uses siren warnings and, additionally, AT-Alert via Cell Broadcast. AT-Alert does not replace the sirens, but supplements them.

• Sirens: warning, alarm and all-clear signals in civil protection situations.
• AT-Alert: warning messages sent directly to suitable mobile phones in affected areas.
• Radio: during a power outage, a battery-powered, hand-crank or car radio is important for receiving official information.
• Municipality / district / federal state: local contact points and crisis information may differ depending on the event.

For Austria, household preparedness for at least 10 to 14 days is recommended. Supplies should be usable without electricity.

• Plan drinking water and beverages for everyone in the household.
• Store long-life food that can also be eaten cold or prepared simply.
• Keep medicines, first-aid supplies and personal long-term medication ready.
• Prepare a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, torches, spare batteries and power banks.
• Keep cash in small notes and coins, as card payments and ATMs may fail.
• Keep important documents, phone numbers and addresses available offline.
• When using alternative cooking or heating sources, be aware of fire and carbon monoxide risks.

In the event of power outages, the relevant local grid operator is primarily responsible. E-Control provides general information on how to behave during power outages, but it is not a fire, rescue or fault reporting service.

For citizens of the Dominican Republic in Austria, the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Vienna is the responsible official foreign representation.

Travellers should save important contacts offline before travelling and should not store them only on a mobile phone.