N.B. test of Alert Ready this week
Emergency system to push messages through TV, radio, smartphones Wednesday morning
Your smartphone will chime and light up Wednesday morning as a test is conducted in New Brunswick of an emergency notification system, the provincial government advises.
The provincial Department of Justice and Public Safety issued a news release Tuesday morning, announcing that Alert Ready, the national public alerting system, will undergo a test in New Brunswick on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 10:55 a.m.
The national system was developed to convey critical and potentially life-saving alerts in specific areas.
“The test will take place on television, radio and wireless devices,” the release said.
Following an audio alarm, the following text will be presented on television on a red background or broadcast by radio, in French, then in English: “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.”
Wireless devices such as smartphones will also sound an alarm and vibrate, and the same text will display in both official languages, the department said.
Compatible wireless devices will vibrate and the alert sound will play. The accompanying text in both official languages will state that it is only a test.
Federal, provincial and territorial emergency-management officials, Environment and Climate Change Canada and the broadcast industry partnered to develop Alert Ready so as to improve emergency preparedness and response in crises.
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