B.C.-wide emergency text alerts getting put to test in May
A B.C.-wide system that allows emergency alerts to be sent as text messages goes live on Friday, while the first test alert will be sent next month.
The national Alert Ready system will be ready April 6, according to a news release from the B.C. government. The system allows for broadcasts of emergency information about natural disasters and major emergencies through radio and television broadcasts, social media feeds and, beginning this week, text messages to smartphones.
“Accurate and timely information in an emergency situation can save lives and livelihoods, and we need to deploy every tool available to alert people of potential public safety threats,” said Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth.
“As technology improves, we are always looking for new ways to broaden our reach and reduce the time it takes to communicate critical safety information. Wireless alerts will help us achieve both of those objectives.”
Wireless text alerts will be tested May 9 at 1:55 p.m., alongside routine television and radio tests.
The system is only set up to broadcast information about tsunamis, but the B.C. government has said it is looking to expand the system to send alerts about other hazards.
Smartphone alerts will contain instructions on how to respond to the emergency. All LTE smartphones that are connected to a cellular network are alert-compatible and within the alert area will receive an alert at no cost. Smart watches or tablets that are LTE equipped and connected may also receive alerts.
Smartphones that are turned off will not display an alert but it will be displayed when the device is turned back on. A smartphone set to silent will display an alert but will not play the emergency alert tone. If a phone is not set to silent, the alert will play at whatever volume the phone is set at.
To see if your cellphone is equipped to receive messages, visit Alert Ready online and select your wireless provider for more information.
In January, a missile alert was sent out on an emergency alert system across the state of Hawaii, causing widespread panic by declaring “this is not a drill.” The message was a false alarm, sent as the result of a drill miscommunication.