(File photo/Pattison Media)

By Pete McIntyre

Just a test

Emergency alert system to be tested Wednesday

May 7, 2024 | 5:00 PM

People’s cellphones will be buzzing across most of Canada on Wednesday for the latest test of the emergency alert system.

The test in British Columbia will be conducted at 10:55 a.m. PST, and will also interrupt scheduled programs on television and radio stations.

Testing of the system by Alert Ready is intended to:

• Increase public awareness about the system and spark emergency preparedness conversations, so that Canadians can be ready and prepared in the event of an actual emergency.
• Validate the effectiveness and reliability of the system to ensure it operates as intended from end to end.

According to Alert Ready, Ontario is the only province or territory not involved in Wednesday’s test.

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It will be the first time the federal government tests the national system, which is used to deliver potentially life-saving alerts in case of emergencies like fires, floods or Amber Alerts.

The City of Vernon says at the same time as the national test, the emergency siren at Predator Ridge will be tested, and will last about 3 minutes.

“Members of the public in the Predator Ridge area may hear a wailing sound with a cycle of high and low pitch tones while the test is taking place,” a city news release stated.

No action is required by the public during the siren test.

The emergency siren was an idea led by the Predator Ridge Community Safety group, who made a request to Vernon council to have the device installed at Fire Station 3, to help inform residents and visitors about the need to evacuate due to wildfire.

The Alert Ready system and emergency siren are being tested as part of Emergency Preparedness Week.

To learn more about Emergency Preparedness Week, or how to prepare yourself and your household to respond to an emergency, visit getprepared.gc.ca.

The next test of the system is scheduled for Nov. 20, 2024.