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 a very well-developed infrastructure. During a longer power outage, however, communication, transport, card payments, heating, cooling, elevators, gas 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 create additional problems. Households should therefore prepare not only for power outages, but also for limited accessibility.

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

• 112: European emergency number
• 122: Fire brigade
• 133: Police
• 144: Rescue / ambulance
• 140: Mountain rescue
• 1450: Health advice hotline
• 01 406 43 43: Poison Information Center

Use emergency numbers only in real emergencies. During a widespread blackout, lines should not be blocked by general inquiries.

Austria uses siren warnings and, in addition, AT-Alert via cell broadcast. AT-Alert does not replace the sirens; it complements 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 shelf-stable food that can also be eaten cold or prepared easily.
• Keep medication, first-aid supplies and regular personal medication ready.
• Prepare a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlights, spare batteries and power banks.
• Keep cash in small bills and coins, because card payments and ATMs may fail.
• Keep important documents, phone numbers and addresses available offline.
• Be aware of fire and carbon monoxide risks when using alternative cooking or heating sources.

In the event of power outages, the 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 outage service.

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

Travelers should save important contacts offline before traveling and not rely only on a mobile phone.