Don’t be alarmed! A test emergency alert is scheduled to go off on your phone this afternoon.
On Wednesday, May 9, B.C. residents will get their turn to test out the country’s emergency alert system on their cellphone, tablet or other portable device. At 1:55 p.m., phones will either buzz or make a sound, with a test, which would otherwise be used to warn the public of imminent threats, such as tornadoes, floods, fires, water contamination and Amber Alerts. Ontario and Quebec will get their test alert on May 7.
The National Public Alerting System (NPAS), publicly branded as Alert Ready, is a collaborative initiative between federal-provincial-territorial governments and industry partners. It provides a standard alerting capability to rapidly warn the public of imminent or unfolding hazards to life. On March 21, television and radio stations also tested their emergency broadcasting systems.
Currently, in accordance with a 2014 Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decision, all radio and television broadcasters in Canada are mandated to broadcast public alerts. On April 6, 2017, the CRTC mandated wireless service providers to be capable of sending wireless public alerts in Canada by April 6, 2018.
The alerts will contain instructions for a safe response and are broadcast automatically at no cost to wireless users. To receive the alerts, mobile devices must be connected to a cellular network, be alert-compatible and within the area affected by the alert. To check wireless devices for compatibility, visit www.alertready.ca.
With files from Alan Campbell
