An emergency alert system will be tested across the province Wednesday, November 20 at 1:55 p.m. PST, broadcasting a test notification on television, radio, and compatible cell phones.
Testing of the emergency alert system is intended to:
- Increase public awareness about the system, so Canadians can be ready and prepared in the event of an actual emergency.
- Validate the effectiveness and reliability of the system to ensure it operates as intended from end to end.
The Province conducts a test of the Alert Ready emergency alert system twice a year.
The City will also be conducting a test of the emergency siren installed in the Predator Ridge.
The emergency siren is an initiative of Predator Ridge Community Emergency Management Committee, which is recognized by City Council as a community supplied initiative. The siren installed at Fire Station 3 augments the other emergency notification systems in communicating warnings of an evacuation to those in the area.
Residents and visitors in the Predator Ridge area will hear a wailing sound with a cycle of high and low pitch tones while the test is taking place. The November 20 use of the siren is for testing purposes. No action is required by the public for this test.
The City of Vernon uses Alertable to broadcast local emergency information to subscribers. Those who have downloaded the app and follow local emergency notifications may notice two test notifications, as Alertable picks up and retransmits emergency notifications based on geographic data.
All residents in the Greater Vernon area are encouraged to sign up to receive notifications from Alertable. This system is used by the City of Vernon and many neighbouring jurisdictions.
For more information on how to subscribe or to download the free Alertable smart phone app, visit www.vernon.ca/alertable.
To receive email notifications and to stay up-to-date on the latest news from the City of Vernon, visit www.vernon.ca/subscribe.
-30-