If you have a wireless device and you’re in British Columbia, you will more than likely receive a blaring test notification this afternoon.
At 1:55 p.m. today (Nov. 16) Emergency Management B.C. will conduct a test of its emergency alert system as part of the national Alert Ready system.
During the test, an alert will be broadcast on radio and TV stations and sent to compatible wireless devices, such as cellphones that are connected to an LTE cellular network and are not in airplane mode, according to a statement from EMBC.
The message contained in the alert will clearly indicate that the notification is merely a test.
The notification system is tested twice each year to ensure it remains effective and functional and messages sent to cellphones are free of charge.
B.C.’s Alert Ready emergency notification system was launched in 2018 but wasn’t actually used until November 2021 during an active shooting in Vanderhoof.
Earlier this year, following a deadly heatwave and devastating flooding and wildfire events throughout the province in 2021, officials expanded the system.
Today, the system now includes alerts for wildfires, floods, extreme heat events, tsunamis, civil emergencies and Amber Alerts.
RELATED: Province expanding emergency alert system to include floods, wildfires ahead of upcoming test
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