Officials say they chose Tolkien's fantasy world because they don't want to alarm people by mentioning real locations in the test and want to gauge how effectively the emergency messages reach Hungary's youth.
Warning plan tested with Lord of the Rings
BUDAPEST, Hungary
Messages broadcast Wednesday mostly on state radio and
television are warning Hungarians about floods and catastrophic
weather in Gondor, Rohan, Rivendell, Helm's Deep and other
locations inhabited by Hobbits, Orcs, Elves, Ents and Dwarves.