Screens at 140 public transport stops across Prague will now display emergency warnings in real time, offering faster communication with residents in the event of floods, violent incidents, or other threats.

The new system is operated by the city’s Crisis Management Team, which can send alerts tailored to specific areas of Prague. This means only residents in affected zones will see the warning messages, helping to avoid unnecessary panic elsewhere.

“There’s no need to alarm people on the opposite side of the city,” said Councilor Michal Hroza (TOP 09), who is responsible for infrastructure. “People will receive alerts only if the situation concerns their location.”

The digital screens—already in use for advertising and cultural event promotion—will now also carry text-based emergency messages. These alerts appear at the top of the screen and, if necessary, will temporarily override ongoing content such as ads or city announcements.

The system is managed by Technologies of the Capital City of Prague (THMP), which maintains the digital infrastructure. The crisis team has direct access to the platform and can trigger alerts instantly, depending on the situation.

“The team can react within seconds,” said Tomáš Novotný, vice-chairman of the THMP board. “They decide what type of alert is needed and whether to interrupt or overlay existing content.”

Commercial messages, including event promotions, won’t be permanently removed—but they can be interrupted in the public interest.

Under the Integrated Rescue System Act, emergency alerts can take precedence to protect public safety.

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