Alert Ready test set for Wednesday
Messages to be pushed through TV, radio, smartphones throughout province on May 8
Telecoms devices throughout the province will light up Wednesday afternoon for a test of the national public alerting system, the New Brunswick government advised Monday.
A test of the Alert Ready system will be conducted in New Brunswick at 2:55 p.m. Wednesday, the Department of Justice and Public Safety said in a news release.
The system aims to deliver immediate and emergency alerts to all within an established area when the safety of the public or specific individuals may be at risk.
“The test will take place on television, radio and wireless devices,” the government release said. “Following an audible alarm, the following information will be presented by television on a red background or broadcast by radio, in French, then in English:”
Wireless devices with the Alert Ready capability will also vibrate, it said.
The scheduled test message will read as follows: “This is a test of the National Public Alerting System by the Government of Canada. No action is required. If this was an actual emergency, you would now have instructions for protecting yourself and your family. For more information please visit the Alert Ready website.”
The department noted this marks the first time the federal government is issuing a message through Alert Ready.
“New Brunswick, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador and Nunavut have agreed to participate in this multi-jurisdictional test,” the release said.
“People living along a border with Quebec may receive the message more than once due to the location of cell towers.”
The Fredericton Independent can be reached at ftonindependent@gmail.com.