Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Minister Responsible for Emergency Preparedness, has issued the following statement on the upcoming Alert Ready test:

“On Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018, at 1:55 p.m. (Pacific time), wireless alerts will again be tested in British Columbia as part of a countrywide emergency test.

“Last spring, we launched wireless alerting in B.C. to broaden our reach and ensure more people have access to critical and possibly life-saving information in the event of an emergency or disaster.

“Regular testing of emergency systems is an important part of ensuring this province is ready in the event of an emergency by identifying any gaps and making certain processes are working correctly. Next week’s test will do just that, allowing people to ensure their devices are compatible and also raising awareness about the importance of emergency preparedness.

“To make sure you receive the emergency alert, I encourage British Columbians, prior to next week’s test, to:

• go to alertready.ca and ensure your device is wireless public-alerting compatible;
• make sure you are connected to an LTE (or 4G) cellular network at the time the emergency alert is issued; and
• update your device with the latest cellular software.

“It’s also important to note that this is not the only way British Columbians can receive emergency alerts. The emergency alerts will be issued to compatible wireless devices, such as smartphones, alongside routine television and radio tests. They are intended to complement, not replace, emergency alerting processes already in place. Wireless alerts will build on other alert tools in B.C. such as the Provincial Emergency Notification System, social media, and in a number of communities, subscription text alerts, sirens and other alerting mechanisms.

“We all have a part to play in preparedness, and given the number of British Columbians who have wireless devices, this evolution in alerting is the next logical step in emergency management to save lives and promote greater resilience in the face of disaster.”