Canada-wide emergency alert test will take place Wednesday afternoon

Phones, TVs and radios will be blaring out one tone in unanimity tomorrow afternoon as BC conducts a test of the nation-wide emergency alert system.

This scheduled bi-annual test of the wireless Alert Ready system will take place at 1:55 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5th.

A scheduled test earlier this year, in May, was cancelled across Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Alert Ready emergency system was launched in BC in 2018, and has been tested twice a year since then.

During the test, an alert will be broadcast on radio and television stations, as well as on compatible wireless devices. The test message will read:

“This is a TEST of the British Columbia Emergency Alerting System, issued by Emergency Management British Columbia. This is ONLY a TEST. If this had been an actual emergency or threat, you would now hear instructions that would assist you to protect you and your family. For further information go to www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca. This is ONLY a TEST, no action is required.”

For a wireless device to receive the alert, it must be compatible to wireless public alerting, have the most updated version of its operating software, and be connected to an LTE wireless network when the alert is issued. Click here to check your phone’s compatibility.

The Alert Ready system was developed by several authorities including federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pelmorex, the broadcasting industry and wireless service providers.