An Alert Ready public awareness test message is scheduled to take place in Manitoba on Wednesday, May 8, as part of Emergency Preparedness Week 2019.
“Be Emergency Ready is the theme of Emergency Preparedness Week this year and the Alert Ready system is one of the key tools Manitobans have at their disposal to ensure they are ready when disaster strikes,” said Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler, minister responsible for emergency measures. “It is important to note that not all Manitobans will receive the test alert on their wireless device, which may occur for a variety of reasons including device compatibility, connection to a LTE network, cell tower coverage, and individual device software and settings.”
Emergency alerts are distributed on multiple communications channels including compatible wireless devices, cable and satellite TV, radio and web feeds to ensure the widest distribution possible. Manitobans do not have the option to opt-out of this essential life-saving service.
Regular testing helps build awareness of the Alert Ready system and what an emergency alert will look and sound like. Manitobans are encouraged to check wireless device compatibility and update software prior to the test.
“While more than 120 emergency alerts have been successfully transmitted to Canadians over television, radio and wireless devices since April 2018, having regular tests allows us to better educate Canadians about Alert Ready and provide an opportunity to validate and improve the end to end performance and reliability of the system,” says Martin Belanger, director of public alerting at Pelmorex, operator of the technical infrastructure of Alert Ready, known as the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System.
Manitobans who receive the emergency alert on a wireless device while operating a vehicle should remain calm and safely pull off the roadway at the earliest opportunity to view the alert.
Feedback following the test will provide valuable information on the emergency alerting system. A brief survey is available on Manitoba EMO’s website.
The minister also noted that this year’s emergency preparedness theme is a call to action for Manitobans to prepare for emergencies, to stay informed and to mitigate the potential negative impacts of emergencies.
